Before beginning studies with Leopold Auer, Oscar Shumsky was invited by Leopold Stokowski to perform Mozart's Fifth Violin Concerto as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Recording & Production
The Music Appreciation Records (MAR) label, which released Oscar Shumsky's first recording of Mozart's Fifth Violin Concerto, was founded by Harry Scherman, who also founded the Book-of-the-Month Club.
Notable Performances
Massenet's 'Méditation' from the opera Thaïs was so popular that Mischa Elman, a famous violinist, was specifically brought in to perform it whenever Thaïs was staged at the Met in the early 20th century.
Performer Biography
Oscar Shumsky, the violinist on this album, was accepted by famed pedagogue Leopold Auer at age 8, becoming his youngest student ever.
Historical Context
Oscar Shumsky often served as concertmaster for 'The Voice of Firestone' Hour, an NBC weekly radio show launched in 1928 that featured leading opera stars and popular artists.
Cultural Impact
The theme song of 'The Voice of Firestone' Hour, 'If I could Tell You,' became hugely successful due to the show's immense popularity and was recorded by renowned artists.
Recording & Production
Music Appreciation Records (MAR) aimed to sell records and provide spoken commentaries on featured works, with Leonard Bernstein even recording symphonies and analytical narrations for the label.
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