Sasha Culbertson (Violinist)

Sasha Culbertson, the great Russian Violin Virtuoso, now making New York his home; was raised partly near the Carpathian Mountains in Russia and early learned the wierd and beautiful strains of gypsy, Russian and Cossak music. His mother was a fine musician and his father musical.

His first teacher was a Cossak (Prof. Sevcik). Later attended the Imperial Conservatory at Rostov. In 1905 he went to Prague, Bohemia to study for three years. In 1906 Dr. Borecky of Prague wrote "What this young artist accomplishes today borders on the incredible — the impossible." In Vienna in 1908 Dr. Max Kalbeck wrote "Sasha Culbertson made his debut with a cycle of gigantic concerts and carried off the honors over all his colleagues who have appeared upon the concert platform this season. He is the Rubenstein of the violin, not only by virtue of his outward appearance, but that he possesses absolute mastery of the fingerboard, etc., etc." Berlin, London, Rome and New York critics give equal lauditory criticisms. He has also played at the Vatican in a private audience with the Pope of Rome and His Holiness had a medal made for him in honor of this in 1910. His violin is a Joseph Guarnerius, bearing date 1732, having cost $10,000 and formerly belonged to Count Cessoli and intimate friend of Paganini and this violin was greatly admired by Paganini.

Sasha last year was doing concert work in America and playing for the Vocalian Record Co. Will tour Europe 1923 in concert. These records show his marvelous execution and depth of feeling and the wondrous beauty of his violin. Saisha played with the Y.M.C.A. throughout the World War in France, to the sick and wounded and was demobilized in Aug. 1919. Elie, his brother was an interpreter in the army in France and Eugene served two and a half years in the French Heavy Artillery.