Golschmann Vladimir
Golschmann Vladimir
Golschmann, Vladimir, notable French-born American conductor of Russian descent; b. Paris, Dec. 16, 1893; d. N.Y., March 1, 1972. He studied violin and piano, and received training at the Paris Schola Cantorum in harmony, counterpoint, and composition. He played violin in orchs. in Paris, where he founded the Concerts Golschmann in 1919, at which he conducted many premieres of contemporary works; he also conducted opera and from 1920 was a conductor of ballet for Diaghilev. In 1923 he conducted in the U.S. for the first time with Les Ballets Suédois, and returned in 1924 as a guest conductor of the N.Y. Sym. Orch. A successful engagement as a guest conductor of the St. Louis Sym. Orch. in 1931 led to his appointment that year as its music director, a position he held with distinction for 27 years. In 1947 he became a naturalized American citizen. He later was music director of the Tulsa Phil. (1958-61) and the Denver Sym. Orch. (1964-70). Throughout his long career, he appeared as a guest conductor in North America and Europe. In addition to the 20th- century repertory, Golschmann’s brilliance as an interpreter was at its best in the colorful works of the Romantic era.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire