Perlman, Itzhak

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 Cons., 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 Orch. Assn. in N.Y. In 1964 he won 1^stprize 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. orchs., and also toured widely as a recitalist and chamber music artist. In 1968 he made his London debut as soloist with the London Sym. Orch., and thereafter was engaged by all of the leading British orchs. He made his Salzburg Festival debut as soloist with the Vienna Phil, in 1972, and in succeeding years made regular tours of Europe. In 1975 he joined the faculty of Brooklyn Coll. of the City Univ. 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 Sym. Orch. 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.

Bibliography

C. Behrman, Fiddler to the World: The Inspiring Life of I. P. (White Hall, Va., 1992).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire