Description

ROBERT KITAIN (KYIV, RUSSIAN EMPIRE, NOW UKRAINE, 1902 – MEXICO CITY, 1968)

 

 

 

 

Robert Kitain was a prominent Russian-American virtuoso violinist of the 20th century. Born into a distinguished musical family in the Russian Empire, his father was composer and professor Mikhail Kitain, his mother was pianist Maria Kitaina, and his brothers were the celebrated concert pianist Anatole Kitain and violinist Boris Kitain.

Early Life and Training

Child Prodigy: Displaying exceptional talent at a young age, Robert debuted alongside his brother Anatole at the Hermitage Theatre in St. Petersburg.

The Auer School: He studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory under the legendary pedagogue Leopold Auer. Amidst the political upheavals of the Russian Revolution, the family temporarily moved to Kyiv before permanently emigrating from the Soviet Union.

International Career

Asian and European Tours: During the 1920s and 1930s, Kitain toured extensively. In 1927, Robert and Anatole embarked on a highly successful concert tour of Japan, where they recorded several tracks for the Nipponophone label, including virtuoso works by Sarasate and Bazzini.

American Success: Kitain eventually settled in the United States, making his formal New York debut and performing regularly at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall. The New York Times music critics frequently praised his performances, noting his “rich, warm tone,” stylistic purity, and technical fluency in demanding repertoire by Bach, Lalo, and Debussy.

Later Years: In the early 1950s, he toured Canada (collaborating with pianist Ira Swartz in British Columbia) before eventually moving to Mexico, where he spent his final years.

Today, his legacy survives through rare historical recordings, particularly his collaborations with his brother Anatole, such as their interpretation of César Franck’s Violin Sonata.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

Franck Violin Sonata in A major

Allegretto ben moderato

Allegro

Recitativo-fantasia. Ben moderato

Allegretto poco mosso

1956

 

Brahms Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 108

Allegro

Adagio

Un poco presto e con sentimento

Presto agitato

1956