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Perlman, Itzhak, eminent Israeli-born American violinist, teacher, and conductor; b. Tel Aviv, Aug. 31, 1945.
He contracted polio when he was 4 but persevered in his determination to study music. After studying at the Tel Aviv Conservatory, he pursued training at the Juilliard School of Music in N.Y. with Galamian and DeLay. On March 5, 1963, he made his formal U.S. debut as soloist with the National Orchestra Association in N.Y. In 1964 he won 1st prize in the Leventritt Competition in N.Y. and quickly established himself as one of the principal violin virtuosos of the day. He appeared as a soloist with all of the major U.S. orchestras and also toured widely as a recitalist and chamber music artist. In 1968 he made his London debut as soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra and thereafter was engaged by all of the leading British orchestras. He made his Salzburg Festival debut as soloist with the Vienna Philharmonic in 1972, and in succeeding years made regular tours of Europe. In 1975 he joined the faculty of Brooklyn College of the City University of N.Y. while continuing his international career. In 1999 he became a teacher at the Juilliard School. Perlman also became active as a conductor, and in 2001 assumed the position of principal guest conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra He was honored with the U.S. Medal of Freedom by President Reagan in 1986. As a violinist, Perlman has performed and recorded all of the standard concertos. He has also sought out and performed works from the non-standard repertoire, including excursions into rags and jazz.
Further Readings
Bibliography
C. Behrman, FIDDLER TO THE WORLD: THE INSPIRING LIFE OF I. P. (White Hall, Va., 1992).
Source: "Itzhak Perlman." BAKER'S BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF MUSICIANS®, Centennial Edition. Nicolas Slonimsky, Editor Emeritus. Schirmer, 2001. Reprinted by permission of The Gale Group.
Photo: Courtesy of EMI Classics.
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