Franko, Nahan

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Franko, Nahan

Franko, Nahan, American violinist and conductor, brother of Sam Franko; b. New Orleans, July 23, 1861; d. Amityville, N.Y., June 7, 1930. As a child prodigy, he toured with Adelina Patti. He then studied in Berlin with Joachim and Wilhelmj. Returning to America, he joined the orch. of the Metropolitan Opera, which he served as concertmaster from 1883 to 1905. He made his debut there as a conductor on April 1, 1900, to be the first native- born American to be so engaged (1904–07).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire