Edna Michell is an Israeli-American violinist, pedagogue, and founder and director of music festivals, institutes, and concert series, known for her versatility and her efforts to expand the violin and chamber music repertoire.
Early career
Michell was born in Tel Aviv, and began violin studies at the age of four with Moshe Hopenko, a pupil of Leopold Auer. She continued her studies at the Rubin Academy in Tel Aviv with Alice and Lorand Fenyves and Ödön Pártos, who were students of Jenő Hubay. At a very young age she was awarded the Yehudi Menuhin special scholarship to continue her studies in London with Menuhin and Max Rostal. In London, she was reportedly the youngest graduate ever of the Guildhall School of Music, and won the Academy Prize for Chamber Music. Michell later studied with Ivan Galamian in the United States, and worked with Zino Francescatti and Henryk Szeryng. Michell's integration of the Auer, Hubay, Flesch and Galamian schools of violin methods became a decisive influence in her life of performance and teaching. In her teens, Michell began touring internationally, performing in recitals and with orchestras in Great Britain, Europe and Central and South America. Following Michell's London debut at Wigmore Hall, Menuhin presented her with a Vincenzo Rugeri violin. Claudio Arrau, upon hearing her, wrote that "She is a splendid musician and has the approach of a serious dedicated artist. Hers is a natural gift for the instrument..." Arrau's efforts enabled Michell to make her New York debut at Town Hall. Michell has performed as a duo with harpsichordist Fernando Valenti and with classical guitaristRey de la Torré.
Michell was the founder and guiding spirit of the Cantilena Chamber Players/Cantilena Piano Quartet, an ensemble known for performing well-known masterworks, premiering new compositions, and reviving forgotten or lesser-known masterworks from the 19th century re-discovered by Michell. She inspired over twenty composers to write new compositions for the ensemble. The Cantilena Chamber Players/ Cantilena Piano Quartet has performed around the world, including the Helena Rubinstein Concerts, a series founded by Michell. Cantilena, with Menuhin, was invited to perform a special concert at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics.
Reception
Michell has received outstanding reviews throughout her career. Music and Musicians described her as "a violinist of rare gifts", and the Montreal Star wrote that "her thrilling tone has a vibrancy which sends chills down one's back and she is in possession of a technique which is quite stunning in its virtuosity." The Strad wrote that "Michell, in particular, has the same ability to soar rasphodically above the bar lines that made Menuhin's own violin playing so eloquent and memorable." Of a performance in Mexico, Novadades wrote that " captivated the audience. Edna Michell's violin sings, translating deep sorrow and great happiness."
Collaboration
Michell maintained a collaborative relationship with her mentor Menuhin, which included a wide variety of musical projects, performances in concert halls, television programs, and recordings. Their recordings included Orpheus and Euridice by Foss, dedicated to Michell and Menuhin, and La muse et le poète by Camille Saint-Saëns, and Concertino for Piano Trio and String Orchestra by Bohuslav Martinů.
Michell's recent activities include Compassion Through Music, an ongoing project she created with Menuhin. Leading composers from around the world have written new works inspired by the theme of universal compassion. The project reflects Michell and Menuhin's belief that compassion is critical to the fate of humanity and that through music, listeners may be moved to connect more deeply with others. Twenty-five composers have contributed pieces to the project, including Foss, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Tavener, Chen Yi, Somei Satoh, Wolfgang Rihm, Hans Werner Henze, Boris Tishchenko, Poul Ruders, Kaija Saariaho, Petr Eben, Josef Tal, Iannis Xenakis, György Kurtág, Yinam Leef, Shulamit Ran and Karel Husa. A CD of the first fifteen pieces composed for the project, entitled Compassion, was released by EMI. It was praised by critics, with Edward Greenfield writing in Gramophone that "It is due to the energy and application of the violinist Edna Michell that this impressive collection of pieces was written by leading composers... With excellent playing from Michell and all the contributors, it is a memorable, very well-recorded disc." A second CD is forthcoming.
