Manuel Rosenthal - Early Life and Career

Early Life and Career

Rosenthal was born in Paris to Anna Devorsosky, of Russian Jewish descent, and to a French father, whom he never met. His surname was taken from his stepfather, Bernard Rosenthal.

Rosenthal began violin studies at age 6; after his stepfather's death in 1918, Rosenthal played the violin to support his mother and his sisters, working in cafés and cinemas. In 1920, Rosenthal entered the Conservatoire in Paris, although he had to leave the institution after failing to win an expected first prize. In addition to continuing his violin studies with Alterman and Boucherit and playing in theatre and cinema bands, he also studied composition. Around this time Rosenthal met Léo Sir, inventor of the dixtuor of string instruments; he was persuaded to play the sursoprano (a 4th higher than the violin) but also to find composers to write for this new medium. Through this Rosenthal met Milhaud, Honegger and others, and also contributed his own music to a recital in Paris in October 1921.

He wrote a Sonatine for two violins and piano for a sight-reading examination, and the work received acclaim after its performance at the 99th concert of the Société Musicale Independante in Paris at the end of October 1924, attended by both Nadia Boulanger and Roland Manuel. After military service, he became Maurice Ravel's third and final student, seeing him once or twice a month, while also having lessons in counterpoint and fugue from Jean Huré. Rosenthal continued to play violin in the orchestra at the Moulin Rouge and the Casino de Paris. Ravel encouraged him to win the Prix Blumenthal (worth 20,000 francs)in 1928 and contacted the directors of the Opéra-Comique to get the one-act opera Rayon des soieries performed there in June 1930. He also arranged for Rosenthal's conducting debut, at a concert of Rosenthal's own music in 1928.