Lyric Opera of Chicago Presents Legendary Violinist Itzhak Perlman, 4/4

Legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman makes his first-ever appearance on the stage of Chicago's Civic Opera House on Sunday, April 6 at 2 pm. He will be accompanied by pianist and frequent collaborator Rohan De Silva in a program of Beethoven, Richard Strauss, and Debussy, with additional works to be announced from the stage. Video screens will provide up-close viewing for every seat in the opera house.

Tickets range from $25 to $139 and can be purchased at lyricopera.org or by calling 312.827.5600.

Perlman, who made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1963, appeared in Chicago only a few years later. "It was possible to imagine that Itzhak Perlman was born with a violin protruding from his left clavicle and never had to learn to play it," wrote theChicago Daily News of his Chicago debut.

Since then Perlman has made numerous Chicago appearances, both at Symphony Center and at Ravinia, but he has never before performed at the Civic Opera House. "To me it seems absolutely fitting that we present the reigning violin virtuoso of our time on the stage that has been graced by all the legendary operatic performers," says Lyric's general director Anthony Freud. "Itzhak's recital here is indeed a historic event, and that is to say the very least!"

The Tel Aviv-born Perlman is a winner of numerous Grammy Awards and is one of the few classical artists who has achieved iconic pop-culture status. Perlman first became known to the American public through appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show - his first was 1958. His second, in 1964, was the same show that brought the Rolling Stones to the American viewing public.

In addition to appearing throughout the world performing the classical violin repertory, Perlman has appeared on Sesame Street, has made a jazz album with Oscar Peterson, and has been a soloist on a number of film scores includingSchindler's List. In January 2009 he performed the John Williams arrangement of "Simple Gifts" for President Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony. "One of the commanding talents of our time, able to reach an audience with his first note and hold ears and hearts indefinitely thereafter," wrote the Chicago Tribune of a Perlman performance.

Program details:

BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Sonata No. 8 in G Major for Violin and Piano, Op. 30 No.3
Allegro assai
Tempo di minuetto, ma molto moderato e grazioso
Allegro vivace

STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Sonata in E-flat Major for Violin and Piano, Op. 18
Allegro ma non troppo
Improvisation: Andante cantabile
Finale: Andante-Allegro

INTERMISSION

DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Sonata in G Minor for Violin and Piano, L. 140
Allegro vivo
Intermède: Fantasque et léger
Finale: Très animé

Additional works to be announced from the stage.

This program is generously sponsored by The Estates of James L. Stein and Frieda Leider Stein.