The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Elman, Mischa

ELMAN, Mischa, Jewish violinist: b. Talnoje, Russia, 1892. He showed such remarkable talent that at the age of six he was taken by his father to Odesaa and there studied under competent masters for four years. He met Leopold Auer in 1902 and so impressed the latter that he secured the permission of the Tsar for Elman's admission to the Imperial Conservatory at Saint Petersburg, hitherto closed to members of the Jewish race. Elman spent two years there under Auer and at his début in 1904 he was at once acclaimed as an artist of first rank. He toured Germany and everywhere scored a triumphant success. He visited the United States in 1906 and again in 1911, 1912, 1913 and 1914, being eminently successful on every occasion. On the violin he is now recognized as a veritable genius.