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Itzhak Perlman
January 4, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Location: Phillips Center
Genre: Chamber, Classical, Recital
Prices: Front orchestra/mezzanine: $65; Mid-orchestra: $50; Rear orchestra: $45; Balcony: $40
Sponsored by Shands HealthCare and The Alan & Carol Squitieri Performing Arts Endowment
There will be a pre-performance discussion with Howard Rothman at 3 p.m.
With John Root, Piano
Program
Violin Sonata in D Major, Op. 1/13 - Handel
Violin Sonata No. 9, Op. 47 (Kreutzer) - Beethoven
Theme and variations for Violin & Piano - Messiaen
Other works to be announced from the stage.
PLEASE NOTE: This performance was postponed from April 13, 2008. Tickets for the original April 13 concert will be honored for the new date. Patrons who are unable to attend the performance on the new date may receive a full refund from the original point of purchase. For more information, please contact the Phillips Center Box Office at 352-392-2787.
See Itzhak Perlman give a master class on You Tube
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 throughout the world who respond not only to his remarkable artistry, but also to the irrepressible joy of making music, which he communicates. In December 2003 the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts granted Mr. Perlman a Kennedy Center Honor celebrating his distinguished achievements and contributions to the cultural and educational life of our nation. He recently performed at the State Dinner for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, hosted by President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush at the White House.
Born in Israel in 1945, Mr. Perlman completed his initial training at the Academy of Music in Tel Aviv. He came to New York and soon 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, Mr. Perlman won the prestigious Leventritt Competition in 1964, which led to a burgeoning worldwide career. Since then, Itzhak Perlman has appeared with every major orchestra, and in recitals and festivals around the world.
Mr. Perlman is a frequent presence on the conductor’s podium, and through this medium he is further delighting his audiences. He has performed as conductor with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony, National Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the symphony orchestras of San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Montreal and Toronto, as well as at the Ravinia and OK Mozart festivals. He was Music Advisor of the St. Louis Symphony from 2002 to 2004 where he made regular conducting appearances, and he was Principal Guest Conductor of the Detroit Symphony from 2001 to 2005. This season he conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, New World Symphony, and Toronto Symphony. Internationally, Mr. Perlman has conducted the Berlin Philharmonic, Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Philharmonic, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Tonhalle Orchestra and the Israel Philharmonic.
As soloist, Mr. Perlman continues to visit major centers throughout the world. Highlights of his 2007-08 season include summer performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Center and Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood; recitals throughout Europe and the United States including London, Paris, Brussels, Zurich, Boston and Los Angeles; and a tour of Japan where he will be heard both in recital and with orchestra. Mr. Perlman also appears with students from the Perlman Music Program in a three-concert series at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
A major presence in the performing arts on television, Itzhak Perlman has been honored with four Emmy Awards, most recently for the PBS documentary Fiddling for the Future, a film about the Perlman Music Program and his work as a teacher and conductor there. In July of 2004, PBS aired a special titled Perlman in Shanghai which chronicled a historic and unforgettable visit of the Perlman Music Program to China, featuring interaction between American and Chinese students and culminating in a concert at the Shanghai Grand Theater and a performance with one thousand young violinists, led by Mr. Perlman and broadcast throughout China. Mr. Perlman’s third Emmy Award recognized his dedication to Klezmer music, as profiled in the 1995 PBS television special In the Fiddler’s House, which was filmed in Poland and featured him performing with four of the world’s finest Klezmer bands.
Mr. Perlman has entertained and enlightened millions of TV viewers of all ages on popular shows as diverse as The Late Show with David Letterman, Sesame Street, the PBS series 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 April 2006, and PBS specials, including A Musical Toast and Mozart by the Masters, in which he served both as host and featured performer. In July 1994, Mr. Perlman hosted the U.S. broadcast of the Three Tenors, Encore! live from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. In March 2006, a worldwide audience in the hundreds of millions saw Mr. Perlman perform live on the 78th Annual Academy Awards telecast, as he performed a medley from the five film scores nominated in the category of Best Original Score. One of Mr. Perlman’s proudest achievements is his collaboration with film score composer John Williams in Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award-winning film Schindler’s List, in which he performed the violin solos. He can also be heard as the violin soloist on the soundtrack of Zhang Yimou’s film Hero (music by Tan Dun) and Rob Marshall’s Memoirs of a Geisha (music by John Williams).
Itzhak Perlman’s recordings regularly appear on the best-seller charts and have garnered 15 Grammy Awards. His latest Grammy was awarded for The American Album, with Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. His most recent releases include an all-Mozart recording with the Berlin Philharmonic (EMI) with Mr. Perlman performing as both soloist and conductor, and a recording for Deutsche Grammophon with Mr. Perlman conducting the Israel Philharmonic. Other recordings reveal Mr. Perlman’s devotion to education, including Concertos from my Childhood with The Juilliard Orchestra under Lawrence Foster (EMI) and Marita and her Heart’s Desire, composed and conducted by Bruce Adolphe (Telarc). Other recordings over the past decade have included a Grammy-nominated live recording with pianist Martha Argerich performing Beethoven and Franck Sonatas (EMI); Cinema Serenade, featuring popular hits from movies with John Williams conducting (Sony); A la Carte, a recording of short violin pieces with orchestra (EMI); and In the Fiddler’s House, a celebration of Klezmer Music (EMI) that formed the basis of the PBS television special. In 2004, EMI released The Perlman Edition, a limited edition, 15-CD box set featuring many of his finest EMI recordings as well as newly compiled material. RCA Red Seal released a CD titled Perlman reDISCOVERED which includes material recorded in 1965 by a young Itzhak Perlman.
Mr. Perlman has a long association with the Israel Philharmonic, and he has participated in many groundbreaking tours with this orchestra from his homeland. In November of 1987 he joined the IPO for history-making concerts in Warsaw and Budapest, representing the first performances by this orchestra and soloist in Eastern bloc countries. He again made history as he joined the orchestra for its first visit to the Soviet Union in April/May of 1990, and was cheered by audiences in Moscow and Leningrad who thronged to hear his recital and orchestral performances. This visit was captured on a PBS documentary titled Perlman in Russia which won an Emmy. In December of 1994 Mr. Perlman joined the Israel Philharmonic for their first visits to China and India.
Over the past decade Mr. Perlman has 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, which 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 Reagan honored Mr. Perlman with a “Medal of Liberty” in 1986, and in December 2000, President Clinton awarded Mr. Perlman 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 Mr. Perlman’s life.
Comments?
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Questions about tickets or seat availability should be directed to the Box Office.
February 2nd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Easily the greatest Violinist of all time! I will be there. I play piano myself, and he makes me wish I could play the violin.
March 1st, 2008 at 5:16 pm
My mother and I both play violin and wish we could play so well!
April 6th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I have had a poster up in my room reminding me not too miss this event for about three months now. Unfortunately I just logged on to the UF Performing Arts web site here and realized that the concert is sold out. That’s really a bummer because I have always wanted to hear someone play the violin masterfully.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:41 am
I’ve had a ticket for this concert since last July, I was very disappointed to receive the phone call saying it had been postponed. I hope it gets rescheduled soon!
January 5th, 2009 at 11:25 am
I had a dear friend from Jacksonville come and join me to see and hear the master. Wonderful perforance and enjoyed his humor. I had the pleasure of a previous performance a number of years back and was happy to be able to experience him all over again. The pianist was also great. I am now looking forward to Carol Burnett and Yanni.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:31 am
A truly marvelous performance! I wish that we could have more events comparable to this master classic.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Fortunately, I was able to pick up a ticket at the last minute at Will Call in a very good seat. The performance was phenomenal. I had heard Mr. Perlman in concert several years ago, and he has only beoome an even greater performer. The pianist John Root was exceptional. The performance felt like a house concert, because of the warmth and graciousness of these 2 gentlemenm. We are so fortunate to have such a great venue to appreciate such fine artists only a few minutes from home. Thank you Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
It was a fantastic concert. I’ll remember it for a long time.
Wish we could afford to bring other performers of this caliber.
We did have pianist Murray Perahia and alas, the audience was sparse.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
It was a wonderful evening. Mr. Perlman’s performance was everything and more than I expected.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Great performance. Congratulations to the Phillips Center for booking someone so talented.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
This was one of the finest performances at the Phillips Center. Bravo Itzhak….
January 5th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
The Itzhak Perlman concert was a memorable experience. We sat in the balcony and the sound was perfect. The pre performance discussion was excellent also, Informative and very enjoyable.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
A truly beautiful experience. The clarity of sound, mastery of notes and intimate connection with the audience was remarkable. John Root is an incredible performer. Michael Blachly has done a stellar job in booking such talented performers. Many great performances remain for the 2009 season. I hope that people will support the Phillips Center so that the 2009/10 season will be as exciting. Thanks for a perfect evening.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
My wife had purchased the tickets for the original date as a birthday present. The unexpected wait was so much more than worth it! Mr. Perlman’s performance was a truly memorable experience and will be cherished for years to come. We hope the Phillips Center will continue to bring this caliber of performers for all to enjoy. Thank you!
January 5th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE BY BRILLIANT ARTISTS!
January 5th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
The Itzhak Perlman concert was excellent, but the environment was not. Could it be possible that the Phillips Center had the heat on when it was almost 80 degrees outside. I admit that our tickets were sort of in the nosebleed section, but everyone in the hall, regardless of location, should expect to be relatively comfortable. Many times we and those around us could feel warm air being blown our way and the atmosphere where we were was smothering.
Mr. Perlman, as usual, was perfect.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
I kept waiting for the old passion and taut mastery to emerge when Mr. Perlman lifted his bow. But for me, the fire of years past was never relit. I was disappointed enough to leave at the intermission. Probably I was making unfavorable comparisons with his spellbinding performances of years past when I was fortunate enough to be in the audience. In this concert, I also felt that Mr. Root, his accompanist, played “over” the violin music too heavily in many places, burying the melodies coming from the strings.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
The performance was outstanding! What a thrill to be in the same room with Perlman! His charm and good humor add to the warmth and excitement of the performance. We hope that he will grace our stage again soon.
Roslyn and Norman Levy
January 5th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
I bought my ticket for the 2/9/08 concert 12/07. The only seat available was on a regular chair against the wall all the way at the back. This concert was cancelled & would be on again in Oct. Unfortunately, it was again postponed. I finally was in the audience Sunday, January 4, 2008. It was worth waiting for. Although I was as far back as it was possible to go, I saw the stage & the artists perfectly. The sound was great as well. The show was more than worth waiting for.
January 5th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Perlman was undoubtedly outstanding, but I think it is a sad comment on our town and community that we can “fill the house” when someone with world-wide recognition performs but the house is less than full for other equally outstanding performances in theatre, dance, chamber, and orchestra. Michael Blachly and his staff at the Phillips Center are dedicated to bringing world-class live performances to our stage. Only by supporting the UF Performing Arts in general by buying tickets and donating by becoming Affiliates can “Perlmans” and Yo-Yo Ma be brought to town.
January 5th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I took my six year old son to hear and see greatness on the violin. (He’s taking violin lessons.) At night when I tuck him in, I usually ask him what was the best part about your day and tonight he simply said, “Hearing Itzhak play, Mommy.” It was exquisite and well worth the sacrifice it took to go to the concert. We hope to hear him again at the Phillips Center soon!
January 5th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Wonderful performance by Mr. Perlman. He is always a delight. I have never been disappointed by a performance over the many years I have been privileged to hear and see him play.
I only wish I could have heard his amusing comments. A mic would have helped tremendously. We could only hear a word here and there.
Fortunately, the music could be heard and treasured.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
This was a wonderful experience. It was a shame that the pre-program lecture did not have the benefit of what might have been interesting projections on the screen. That would not have happened if the subject were football rather than fiddling.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
A full chorale of angels flew in Sunday, January 4,2009, bringing with them the master of masters, Itzhak Perlman. You might not have seen him, but Alan Squitieri was in the front row with me. We both cried, laughed and rejoiced in the presence of Mr. Perlman. Michael Blachly, you are such a gift to University of Florida Performing Arts. I could never thank you enough for bringing Mr. Perlman and so many other brilliant artists to our community. You had faith in us that we would appreciate your hard work and dedication and Lord knows we are so very grateful. Alan and I both thank you with all our hearts. God bless, Carol Squitieri
January 6th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Like most of your audience, I have looked forward to this performance for a year and my friend and I were not disappointed. I am am amazed at the quality and variety of artists Mr. Blachly books for us to enjoy. Mr. Perlman was brilliant. The audience was involved and respectful. In two weeks my friend and I will see Cherryholmes - very different but well worth seeing. Thanks for the memories.
January 6th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
The only word to describe Sunday’s performance by Itzhak Perlman is thrilling. We in Gainesville are truly privileged to have had this legendary artist perform in our community. Thanks to Michael and your whole staff.
January 6th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
I don’t know when I have been so disappointed in a concert. It’s a feather in the cap of Gainesville when an artist of Mr. Perlman’s stature comes to play for us. But, when he plays with indifference and looks like he’d rather be anywhere but here, he makes a sad comment about all of us. I thought the first half of the concert was played mechanically with the pianist and Mr. Perlman out of balance acoustically. The pianist was very loud, almost drowning out the violin. I found myself wondering if Mr. Root and Mr. Perlman had ever rehearsed together. The second half of the concert was a travesty. Why Mr. Perlman decided to casually leaf through music on his music stand and choose, seemingly at random, some insignificant “in the style” of piece to play is beyond me. I did not find it amusing when he and Mr. Root had to look through their music and attempt to be on the same page, literally. I would have liked hearing a major piece of music played but that didn’t happen. The entire concert seemed disjointed and disrespectful of the audience. I don’t care what your name is, we deserve to hear you play music that is meaningful. We took a guest with us and I just received an e-mail from her, which goes on in this vein. I am copying it for you here.
Thank you for reading. We’ll be at the Ying Quartet on Sunday and expect to hear music. We have heard them play before and have no doubt as to their abilities and sensibilities.
Arline Greer
Dear Arline,
Thank you for taking me to the Pearlman concert. I enjoyed it and also found it interesting! In your experience of attending many hundreds of concerts did you ever before see a top rated artist leave the stage after playing less than half of a major work on the program and come back to play short, melodious “fluff” music for the remainder of the concert? I am still surprised. I suppose he MUST have given some explanation but the three of us couldn’t hear his comments. If you get a chance, ask Jennifer or someone who could hear him what he said by way of an explanation–if there was one.
I feel his action was insulting to the audience. Could the reason be one of the following? (1) He was annoyed when a few members of the audience clapped at an inappropriate time during a previous number? Or (2) He was tired and the Messiaen was too demanding? What do you think?
It was almost comical the way Pearlman and Root were conferring on the stage looking for music to play, folding back pages of the scores, and seeming to be confused. I suppose some in the audience found it delightfully informal. I didn’t.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:42 am
I have to agree with Barbara Cox’s comments from January 5th. Mr. Perlman’s technique is truly excellent and what a treat to see him perform, but his passion seems to have left him. I wish we could have seen him in concert years ago when people talked about how he would “attack” his instrument and performances with great energy from start to finish. I hate to admit that we, too, left at intermission (and gave our tickets to the box office in case anyone wanted to use them for the remainder of the concert). We didn’t feel we’d get more than what a CD could offer after sitting through the first hour. The pianist, while an excellent performer himself, did not possess Mr. Perlman’s accuracy and consistency of technique. He seemed to wander in and out of his phrases, using Mr. Perlman as his metronome. They got it right about fifty percent of the time. I often felt as if they should have been solo performers. A full symphonic accompaniment would have been more interesting, but maybe Mr. Perlman’s seemingly “quiet” approach is no longer suitable in front of a full symphony ?