Michael Rabin

Michael Rabin was an American violinist. He has been described as "one of the most talented and tragic violin virtuosi of his generation". His complete Paganini "24 Caprices" for solo violin are available as a single CD, and an additional 6-CD set contains most of his concerto recordings. Despite his brief career—he died at 35—they remain seminal interpretations.
Michael Rabin was of Romanian-Jewish descent. His mother Jeanne was a Juilliard-trained pianist, and his father George was a violinist in the New York Philharmonic. He began to study the violin at the age of seven. His parents encouraged his musical development. After a lesson with Jascha Heifetz, the master advised him to study with Ivan Galamian, who said he had "no weaknesses, never." He began studies with Galamian in New York and at the Meadowmount School of Music and the Juilliard School. His Carnegie Hall debut took place in January 1950, at the age of 13, as soloist with the National Orchestral Association, playing Vieuxtemps' Concerto No. 5 under the direction of Léon Barzin.