Nathan Rakhlin was called the "Mozart of Conducting." Experts and listeners agreed that he literally commanded the orchestra. Artistry and outstanding conducting skills made Rakhlin a legend among Soviet musicians.
Biography: early years
Nathan Rakhlin was born on January 10, 1906 in Snovsk, near Chernigov. The future virtuoso appeared in a large family of Jews. My father led modest ensembles and orchestras that performed diverse plays, as well as Jewish music.
At an early age, Nathan began to show musical talent. Under the command of his father, in a short time he mastered several wind and string instruments.
At the age of seven, Nathan was taken to the local cinema as a musician. He successfully played at city festivals and weddings.
When Nathan turned 13, the famous Kotovsky’s division, which knew his family, stopped in Snovsk. He liked the boy’s virtuoso game and suggested he be a bugler in the division. Nathan's parents did not mind. So Nathan became a horns trumpeter in the military band of Kotovsky’s division.
Nathan began to take part in all army music competitions and won them without difficulty. Kotovsky already understood that the boy had a bright musical future. With his submission, Nathan entered the Kiev Conservatory. Despite his young age, he was immediately assigned to the third year.
Natal studied and managed to play in the orchestra of the Higher Military School. He comprehended the basics of conducting at the Kiev Music and Drama Institute.
Career
In 1935, Nathan moved to Donetsk. By that time, he already had work in the Samara orchestra. In Donetsk, Rakhlin began to lead the regional orchestra.
In 1938, Nathan's first tour in Moscow took place. His performance made a splash. In the same year, he became a participant in the first All-Union Competition of Conductors, where he received the second prize.
In 1941, Rakhlin was entrusted with managing the USSR State Symphony Orchestra. After the war, Nathan returned to Kiev, where he stood at the helm of the State Orchestra of the Ukrainian USSR. In parallel, he began to teach conducting at the local conservatory.
In 1957, Rakhlin moved to the capital, where he began to lead the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. Three years later, he returned to Ukraine. In the same period, his tour was scheduled months in advance. He attended concerts in all cities of the Union, where he had his own symphony orchestras. All his speeches were sold out. The audience appreciated his artistry and fanaticism for music. Nathan never set a music stand in front of him, as he kept all the scores in his head.
In the early 60s, persecution of Jews began in the country. Nathan was removed from a managerial position in the Kiev orchestra and a summer cottage in the Crimea was taken away. Soon he was forced to leave for the province. The famous conductor donkey in Kazan, where he soon created the Tatar ASSR Symphony Orchestra. In a short time he became a world-class ensemble. Rakhlin led him until the end of his days.
On June 28, 1979, Rakhlin died in Kazan. His body was transported and buried in Kiev. A memorial plaque hangs on the house where he lived in Kazan.
