Origins & Early Life

Nathan Mironovich Milstein (Russian: Натан Миронович Мильштейн, romanized: Natan Mironovich Milshteyn; 13 January 1904 [O.S. 31 December 1903] – December 21, 1992) was a Russian-American virtuoso violinist. Widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time, Milstein was known for his interpretations of Bach's solo violin works and for works from the Romantic period. He was also known for his long career: he performed at a high level into his mid-80s, retiring only after suffering a broken hand.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Milstein was born in Odessa, Russian Empire, as the fourth of seven children in a middle-class Jewish family with no musical background. His mother recognized his early interest in music and encouraged him to take violin lessons at the age of five, hoping it would keep him out of trouble. In 1909, Milstein began studying with Odessa’s most esteemed violin teacher, Pyotr Stolyarsky, and continued with him until the summer of 1914. Among his fellow students was a six-year-old David Oistrakh. When Milstein turned 11, Leopold Auer invited him to become one of his students at the St.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Petersburg Conservatory. Milstein later fondly reminisced about those early years: Every...

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