Birth

:

January 1, 1911 in Lódz, Poland

Death

:

May 8, 2012

Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Classical

 

 

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Roman Totenberg was a renowned classical music artist who was born on January 1, 1911, in Lodz, Poland. He was born into a family of musicians, and his father was a violinist and conductor. Totenberg began playing the violin at the age of five, and by the time he was seven, he was already performing in public. In 1923, Totenberg and his family moved to Moscow, where he studied at the Moscow Conservatory with the renowned violinist Leopold Auer. He graduated from the conservatory in 1930 and went on to perform with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1938, Totenberg moved to the United States and became a citizen in 1942. He continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied with Efrem Zimbalist. He also studied with Carl Flesch in Switzerland. Totenberg made his debut with the New York Philharmonic in 1942, and he went on to perform with many other major orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He was known for his virtuosic playing and his ability to bring out the emotional depth of the music. One of Totenberg's most memorable performances was his 1950 performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Charles Munch. The performance was so powerful that the audience gave Totenberg a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes. Totenberg was also a dedicated teacher, and he taught at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for many years. He also taught at the Boston University School of Music and the Tanglewood Music Center. In addition to his performing and teaching, Totenberg was also a champion of contemporary music. He premiered many new works by composers such as Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, and Lukas Foss. Totenberg received many awards and honors throughout his career. In 1964, he was awarded the Order of Merit by the Polish government. In 1987, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Ronald Reagan. He was also a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 1995. Despite his many accomplishments, Totenberg's life was not without tragedy. In 1980, his beloved Stradivarius violin, which he had owned for over 30 years, was stolen from his dressing room after a performance in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The violin was not recovered until 2015, after Totenberg's death, when it was found in the possession of a former student of Totenberg's. Totenberg continued to perform well into his 90s, and he remained an active and beloved member of the classical music community until his death on May 8, 2012, at the age of 101. His legacy lives on through his recordings, his students, and the many musicians he inspired throughout his long and illustrious career.

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