In 1975 I had the opportunity to meet Boris Goldstein for the first time. At a concert in Bad Kissingen, I was able to get to know the great qualities of this exceptional violinist. - In my capacity as Vice President of the University of Music in Würzburg at the time, I managed to persuade Boris Goldstein to apply for a vacant professorship for violin. After a brilliant artistic and pedagogical performance, his appointment was only a formality.

Soon after taking up his post, the first students from Germany and abroad applied for his masterclass. The prominent teacher's international reputation spread quickly, so that within a few years the standard of violin playing at the academy had risen considerably. His intensive - sometimes relentless - teaching of the "Russian school" brought unusual success among the students. The Goldstein class evenings were always a special event. Special initiatives - such as a large Heifetz soirée on the 8th birthday of the revered old master - were very well received everywhere.

The most important Würzburg Goldstein students are (listed alphabetically): F. Barbari, Th. Berg, E. Bovensberg, M. Brokate, F. Brumat, L. Fischer, M. Fischer, J. Frucht, M. Guttmann, J. Haus, M. Herr, M. Kordowich, W. Krönner, O. Nodel, A. Nordmeyer, R. Novacek, T. Mehlin, A. Meshibowsky, E. Meyer-Berkhout, A. Pasternak, M. Perl, A.-M. Sirén, A. Skvortsov, K. Stoyanov, J. Szentpali-Gavaller, M. Szykulski, F. Tempel, I. Varenberg, I.v. Weienberg, W. Zippelius. Most of them now hold important positions in national and international musical life. Thanks to his friendly and amiable manner, Boris Goldstein was appreciated and popular throughout the university - among colleagues, students and staff.

I personally owe him valuable inspiration as a composer. The Dialogues for violin and organ op. 63, a demanding three-movement work, was written in close collaboration with Boris Goldstein and the organist Manfred Brandstetter and had its brilliant premiere in Hanover on 7 October 1977. This was followed by a disc recording with the organist and composer Claus Kühnl. This also received very positive reviews. Boris Goldstein accompanied the composition of my Suite for solo violin op. 78, which was written in 1982, with friendly advice. As conductor of a chamber orchestra, I had the opportunity to repeatedly perform J.S. Bach's Violin Concerto in E major with Boris Goldstein as soloist. Since I had been elected president of the university in the meantime, I was able to make some important connections with radio stations and record companies for Boris Goldstein.

In all the years of working together at the University of Music in Würzburg, a trusting friendship has grown, based on mutual respect and human sympathy. During a trip to North America in the autumn of 1987, I received the news of his sudden death so that, to my great regret, I was unable to pay my last respects to him. His irreplaceable loss was and is mourned by a large number of his friends. Boris Goldstein has left a deep artistic and human mark! His memory will remain with me gratefully.

Bertold Hummel

Biography

Boris Goldstein, born in Odessa in 1922, was an outstanding violinist from an early age. As a ten-year-old, he played the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto on the radio with the Moscow Radio Orchestra, launching a sensational career. His teachers were P. Stoljarski, A. Jampolsky, L. Zeitlin and K. Mostras. The young violinist soon won prizes at prestigious competitions in Moscow, Warsaw and Brussels, followed by triumphant concerts in many European capitals. Famous musicians such as Kreisler, Prokofieff, Heifetz and Menuhin have expressed their admiration for Goldstein's playing. His rivals at international competitions included David Oistrakh, Ida Haendel and Arthur Grumiaux. After a performance at the Wieniawski Competition in Warsaw, none other than Heinrich Neuhaus commented on the young Goldstein: "One is amazed by the sensible and mature playing, the sense of style, the depth and accuracy of his performances, which many masters would envy." In the Soviet Union, Boris Goldstein recorded numerous discs and tapes with works of violin and chamber music, including works specially dedicated to him. He played regularly on the radio and made many recordings. He premiered Prokofiev's 2nd Violin Concerto under the direction of the composer. In 1974, Boris Goldstein emigrated from the former USSR to Germany, where he taught a masterclass as a professor at the University of Music in Würzburg from 1976. His performances as a violinist in Germany and Western Europe were unforgettable highlights of his career. Wherever he performed, he was celebrated by audiences and the press: "... a legendary violinist... a master of the great Slavonic school of violin playing ... " (Daily Telegraph, London, 1986). From 1981, Boris Goldstein and his daughter Julia undertook many national and international tours in Spain, Italy, France and Belgium with overwhelming success. As a teacher, Goldstein was one of the most successful in this field. Many of his pupils won prizes at various international violin competitions. Boris Goldstein died in Hanover in 1987.