Guest Artist Bio

Itzhak Perlman

• Performs in Itzhak Perlman in Recital:
  Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 7:30 pm
  

Undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman enjoys superstar status rarely afforded a classical musician. Beloved for his charm and humanity as well as his talent, he is treasured by audiences who respond not only to his artistry but to the irrepressible joy of making music that he communicates.

In January 2009, Perlman was honored to take part in the inauguration of President Barack Obama, premiering a piece written for the occasion by John Williams and performing with clarinetist Anthony McGill, pianist Gabriela Montero and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. In 2003 the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts granted Perlman a Kennedy Center Honor celebrating his distinguished achievements and contributions to the cultural and educational life of the nation.

Portland audiences are fortunate to have had Perlman as a frequent visitor in recent years. He did double duty with the Oregon Symphony as both guest conductor and violin soloist at concerts in February 2007 and again in February-March 2009. His most recent recital appearance here was in January 2005.

Born in Israel in 1945, Perlman was propelled into the international arena with an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1958. Following his studies at the Juilliard School with Ivan Galamian and Dorothy DeLay, Perlman won the prestigious Leventritt Competition in 1964, which led to a burgeoning worldwide career. Since then, he has appeared with every major orchestra and in recitals and festivals around the world. This season also marks his second as artistic director of the Westchester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Perlman has entertained TV viewers on popular shows as diverse as The Late Show with David Letterman, Sesame Street, The Frugal Gourmet, The Tonight Show, the Grammy awards telecasts and numerous Live From Lincoln Center broadcasts, including The Juilliard School: Celebrating 100 Years in 2006. In 2008, Perlman joined renowned chef Jacques Pépin on Artist’s Table to discuss the relationship between the culinary and musical arts.

One of Perlman’s proudest achievements is his collaboration with composer John Williams in Steven Spielberg’s film Schindler’s List, in which he performed the violin solos. He can also be heard as the violin soloist on the soundtrack of Hero (music by Tan Dun) and Memoirs of a Geisha (music by John Williams).

In February 2008, Itzhak Perlman was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in the recording arts. His recordings regularly appear on the best-seller charts and have garnered fifteen Grammy Awards. His most recent releases include an all-Mozart recording with the Berlin Philharmonic (EMI), with Perlman performing as both soloist and conductor, and a recording for Deutsche Grammophon with Perlman conducting the Israel Philharmonic.

Over the past decade Perlman has also become more actively involved in educational activities. He has taught full time at the Perlman Music Program each summer since it was founded and currently holds the Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation Chair at the Juilliard School.

Numerous publications and institutions have paid tribute to Itzhak Perlman for the unique place he occupies in the artistic and humanitarian fabric of our times. Harvard, Yale, Brandeis, Roosevelt, Yeshiva and Hebrew universities are among the institutions that have awarded him honorary degrees. He was awarded an honorary doctorate and a centennial medal on the occasion of Juilliard’s 100th commencement ceremony in May 2005. President Ronald Reagan honored Perlman with a Medal of Liberty in 1986, and in December 2000 President Bill Clinton awarded him the National Medal of Arts. His presence on stage, on camera and in personal appearances of all kinds speaks eloquently on behalf of the disabled, and his devotion to their cause is an integral part of Perlman’s life.