FELIX SLATKIN: Violinist, Conductor, Arranger

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.

Leonard Slatkin is Music Director Laureate of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and Directeur Musical Honoraire of the Orchestre National de Lyon (ONL). He maintains a rigorous schedule of guest conducting throughout the world and is active as a composer, author, and educator. He has also served as Music Director (2008) of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra, and is Conductor Laureate of the St.Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Frederick Zlotkin (Fred uses the original Russian spelling of the family name) is a well-known cellist, who has served as Principal Cellist for the New York City Ballet, and has also performed regularly with the New York Philharmonic and the Lyric Piano Quartet.

"THE ART OF FELIX SLATKIN"
13 CD Box Set on Scribendum
Includes both classical and instrumental selections!
FULL TRACK LIST
CLICK HERE for full details & ordering information
Dave Hurwitz' YouTube review of the box set

BBC TV program (58:50) which focuses on Korngold's score for the film "DECEPTION" and the Cello Concerto that figures in the film. Rare film clips and home movies of Korngold are included. There is also substantial material on Felix Slatkin, Eleanor Slatkin and the Hollywood String Quartet. The Cello Concerto is performed by Frederick Zlotkin with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin.

Screen shots from Felix Slatkin songs broadcast on SiriusXM Radio "Escape" Channel:
    Night Theme 1   Night Theme 2
    Green Leaves of Summer
    Golden Earrings
Screen shot from Felix Slatkin song broadcast on Music Choice "Easy Listening" Cable TV Channel:
    Lonesome Road   (NOTE: For songs not available on CD, Music Choice shows the album title as "Spotlight on Felix Slatkin")

"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)

Leonard Slatkin and Frederick Zlotkin performed the Korngold Cello Concerto at Kennedy Center on February 8, 2002.

"Family Matter" (by Lawrence Van Gelder, NY Times, February 6, 2002)

A special story lies behind the performance of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Cello Concerto by the National Symphony Orchestra, led by Leonard Slatkin, in its Journey to America series on Friday night at 8:30 in the Concert Hall at the Kennedy Center in Washington. The work was composed by Korngold (1897-1957) for the score of ''Deception'' (1946), a tale of passion, jealousy and music that starred Paul Henreid, Bette Davis and Claude Rains. On Friday the soloist will be Frederick Zlotkin, Mr. Slatkin's brother, who changed the spelling of his last name. When the music was performed for ''Deception,'' the cellist -- Heinreid on screen -- was actually Eleanor Aller Slatkin, mother of Leonard and Frederick and then the principal cellist for Warner Brothers. At the time, Leonard was 2, and she was pregnant with Frederick. One more thing: When Frederick plays the concerto on Friday night, he will be performing on the cello his mother used.