THE FELIX
SLATKIN WEBSITE
THE FELIX
SLATKIN WEBSITE
FELIX SLATKIN (1915 - 1963) was an
arranger,
conductor and violinist. He was active in Hollywood during the
40's,
50's and early 60's. During his career he won wide acclaim and
respect
for his innovative and inspired contributions to many recordings.
In the 40's, Slatkin was the concertmaster of the 20th Century Fox studio orchestra. He later conducted the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra and also formed the Concert Arts Orchestra, recording with both ensembles. He was Frank Sinatra's concertmaster and conductor of choice during the Capitol years of the 50's. Also during the 50's, Slatkin produced and conducted two outstanding albums of military music on the Capitol label. He later recorded several albums for Liberty leading the "Fantastic Strings" at the height of the "Stereo Action" period. Like many studio musicians, he was also virtuoso performer in his own right. He recorded as a classical violinist, and he and his wife, cellist Eleanor Aller -- also a studio regular for whom John Williams wrote a prominent part in the score of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"-- founded a legendary American classical group, the Hollywood String Quartet.
Felix Slatkin and Eleanor Aller had two sons.
Leonard Slatkin is Music Director (2008) of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Laureate of the St.Louis Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra.
Frederick Zlotkin (Fred uses the original Russian spelling of
the family name) is cellist for the New York Philharmonic, Principal
Cellist for the New York City Ballet and cellist for the Lyric Piano
Quartet.
NEWS
FLASH:
"MANY SPLENDORED THEMES" AND "THE
MAGNIFICENT XII"
AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON
CD!
on the HIT PARADE label
(mastered and dist. by Eric
Records)
(Release Date: 2/21/2012)
CLICK
HERE for full details and get your order EARLY!
LINKS:
INTERVIEW WITH FRED
ZLOTKIN (with reminiscences of life in the Felix Slatkin household)
FELIX SLATKIN AND FRANK SINATRA
THE HOLLYWOOD STRING QUARTET (Felix Slatkin, violin)
PHOTOS AND SCANS:
"Army Fiddlers" - Taken
when
Felix
served
in
the
Army Air Force Tactical Command, c. 1944-5, in
a musical capacity. From left to right: Bronislaw Caper,
Felix, Marshall Sosson and Ruggiero Ricci (a battalion of fiddle
players for sure!). (Courtesy Fred Zlotkin)
With Irma Neumann - Taken on the
recording stage of 20th Century Fox (year unknown). Left to
right: Violinist Irma Neumann, flutist Louella Howard and Felix.
(Courtesy Fred Zlotkin)
Felix Slatkin conducting an orchestral
recording session
Felix
Slatkin conducting (portrait)
Capitol Records ad congratulating Felix for
1958 Grammy Award
Ad congratulating
all Capitol Records 1958 Grammy winners, including both Felix Slatkin
and the Hollywood String Quartet
Closeup of Felix
Closeup
of HSQ
Billboard Magazine items:
Obituary in
Billboard Magazine (Feb. 23, 1963)
LEONARD SLATKIN LINKS:
Leonard Slatkin and Frederick Zlotkin performed the Korngold Cello
Concerto at Kennedy Center on February 8, 2002.
Here is a link to a preview of that concert:
Other links of interest:
NY Times article about Fred and
Leonard
EasyListeningHQ.com
(excellent
resource page)
Salli Terri - unofficial home
page (Slatkin recorded with this vocalist on several occasions)
Bob
Thompson (Atomic Magazine page) (Bob collaborated with Slatkin on
various projects)
Space Age Pop: Leo
Arnaud (collaborated with Slatkin on "CHARGE!")
Space Age Pop: String
Groups (includes entry for Fantastic Strings of Felix Slatkin)
Both Sides Now Album
Discographies
Main Page (excellent resource for Liberty discography info)
The
Hollywood String Quartet, Classical Notes, Peter Gutmann
Find-a-Grave
page
for
Felix
Slatkin (You can leave a memorial tribute
here)
