Rafael Druian

Rafael Druian (January 20, 1923 – September 6, 2002), was an American violinist, conductor and music educator. He is remembered for his tenures as concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony and Minneapolis Symphony under Antal Dorati, the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell and the New York Philharmonic under Pierre Boulez.

Life and career

Early career

Druian was born in Vologda, Russia but immigrated with his parents to Havana, Cuba as an infant. He began his formal music training there as a violinist, studying with Amadeo Roldán, the conductor of the Havana Philharmonic. At age 9, he went to Philadelphia to audition for Leopold Stokowski, who recommended him for a scholarship at the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with Lea Luboshutz and Efrem Zimbalist, graduating in 1942. He then served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946, playing the mellophone in the Army Band.

Concertmaster positions

• Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under Antal Doráti: 1947 – 1949
• Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, under Antal Doráti: 1949 – 1960
• Cleveland Orchestra, under George Szell: 1960 – 1969
• New York Philharmonic, under Pierre Boulez: 1971 – 1974

Academic and faculty positions

• University of Minnesota
• Cleveland Institute of Music, Artist in Residence
• California Institute of the Arts, Associate Dean of the Music School, 1969 – 1971
• Blossom Music School
• Kent State University
• State University of New York at Purchase
• University of California, San Diego, Professor of Music, 1974 – 1980
• The Hartt School
• Boston University, 1982? – 1989
• Curtis Institute of Music, 1990 – 2001

Notable students

• Philip Setzer of the Emerson String Quartet
• Herald Klein
• Solomiya Ivakhiv

Personal life

Druian was married to Phyllis Rugg Druian. They had two sons, Peter of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Greg of Portland, Oregon.

Discography

• Robert Schumann Violin Sonata 1 and Johannes Brahms Violin Sonata 2; Druian (violin); John Simms, (piano); Mercury - MG50091.
• Charles Ives Violin Sonatas 1 and 2; Druian (violin); John Simms, (piano); Mercury - MG50096, MG50097, released in 1957.
• Fritz Kreisler Favorites; Druian (violin); John Sims, (piano); Mercury - MG50119A, MG50119B.
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Sinfonia Concertante, K. 364; Druian (violin); Abraham Skernick (viola); Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell (conductor); Epic/Columbia/CBS/Sony, recorded Nov. 28, 1963; nominated for a Grammy Award in 1965.
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Violin Sonatas, K. 301 & 296; Druian (violin), George Szell (piano) (1967)

External links

• A chronological listing of principal musicians of the Cleveland Orchestra with biographical remarks.
• NY Times obituary.
• Druian plays Kreisler Praeludium and Allegro in the style of Pugnani
• Rafael Druian at AllMusic

Sources

• Donald Rosenburg, Rafael Druian, orchestra concertmaster in 1960s, obituary in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 9, 2002
• Overtones, Philadelphia: Curtis Institute of Music, vol. XVII, no. 2, Fall 2002
• Unpublished biographical notes, John Gingrich Management, Inc., [1989?]