Elman Mischa, Mikhail Saulovich Elman, *20 (8) January 1891 Talnoye (Ukraine), †5 April 1967 New York, American violinist of Russian origin. In 1901–04, he studied violin at the St. Petersburg Conservatory with L. Auer. In 1904, he made his debut in St. Petersburg and Berlin, achieving great success. Further concerts in Germany, France, and England, and from 1908 annual tours of the USA, brought him fame and critics’ acclaim. He fascinated audiences with his exceptionally soft, melodious, almost sweet, yet powerful sound. His interpretations, pulsating with life and full of inner tension, were not spectacular, and his phenomenal technique usually remained at the service of expression.
Literature: S. Elman Memoirs of Mischa Elman’s Father, New York 1933; Mac Donnel Carpenter Mischa Elman and J. Szigeti, New York 1955; J.W. Hartnack Grosse Geiger unserer Zeit, Gütersloh 1968.
