Itzhak Perlman News

Principal Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado returns to Carnegie Hall tonight, November 6 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, leading Orchestra of St. Luke's in the first of three Carnegie Hall concerts this season as part of the orchestra's 40th anniversary celebration.

Superb violinist Itamar Zorman, described as a 'virtuoso of emotions' (Goettinger Tageblatt), will make his Carnegie Hall recital debut as part of Carnegie Hall's Distinctive Debuts Series at Weill Recital Hall (154 West 57th St.) tonight, November 5, 2014 at 7:30pm.

Schimmel Center at Pace University announces the addition of Béla Fleck to the previously announced performance of The Knights, New York City's innovative chamber orchestra, taking place on January 28, 2015. Known for transforming the concert experience and driven by an open-minded spirit of camaraderie, the evening's innovative programming and outstanding virtuosity will bring you to your feet with delight.

The Collegiate Chorale presents the New York City premiere of Eric Idle and John Du Prez's Not The Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) at Carnegie Hall, December 15-16, 2014 at 8pm.

—“Cathedrals of Sound,” the first Music Unwound concert of Pacific Symphony's season, offers an evening of inspiration, awe and ambience, bathed in waves of sound and reminiscent of the unique spiritual journey taken in 2010, when world-renowned organist Paul Jacobs and the remarkable Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey made their first appearance together with the orchestra. In 2014, the Fathers return to fill the hall with their splendid, sonorous and worshipful voices, and Jacobs performs on the William J. Gillespie Concert Organ for this all-new program. The concert opens with a rarely performed and powerful work of the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, his “Church Windows.” Inspired by stained glass artistry, it is a work that Pacific Symphony recorded in 1983 with founding music director, Keith Clark. Plus, the rich voices of the Fathers perform the Gregorian chants that inspired Maurice Duruflé—whose transcendent “Requiem” concludes the program and features vocalists mezzo-soprano Elise Quagliata, baritone William Berger and Pacific Chorale (Artistic Director John Alexander).

From turbulent, agitated and ominous to lyrical and tender—it's a passionate journey the audience won't soon forget when Pacific Symphony and guest pianist Haochen Zhang deliver Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in all its glory. Following Zhang's BBC Proms debut, The Telegraph (United Kingdom) called the international piano sensation “one of those hot young Chinese virtuosi everyone's talking about.” Led by Bulgarian-born guest conductor Rossen Milanov, the orchestra then performs a work by Brahms, as the composer steps out of Beethoven's shadow with his rich, ingenious Second Symphony. The cheery and almost pastoral mood of the piece often invites comparisons with Beethoven's Sixth Symphony. Rounding out the versatile program is Thomas Adès' “Three Studies from Couperin,” of which The Jerusalem Post wrote: “Such a combination of enchanting, sensitive lyricism and hypnotizing forcefulness is a phenomenon encountered very rarely.”

MILWAUKEE, WIS. 09/25/2014 – The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong present Tchaikovsky's Fifth this weekend, October 17-18, 2014 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. The performances feature Bacewicz's Overture for Orchestra, Lutoslawski's Piano Concerto with Christopher Taylor, and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5.

The next edition of their three-time Emmy-nominated HBO Family Documentary Special will be Joshua Bell: A YoungArts MasterClass. Filmed in New York City and London, the program features internationally acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell as he mentors, travels, and performs alongside nine talented young string musicians.

Superb violinist Itamar Zorman, described as a "virtuoso of emotions" (Goettinger Tageblatt), will make his Carnegie Hall recital debut as part of Carnegie Hall's Distinctive Debuts Series at Weill Recital Hall (154 West 57th St.) on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at 7:30pm. Zorman was recently awarded the 2014 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, the 2013 Avery Fisher Career Grant, and in 2011 was one of two top prize winners at the Tchaikovsky International Violin Competition. His program, with pianist Kwan Yi, will include J.S. Bach's Solo Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Major; Schnittke's Violin Sonata No. 2, "Quasi una sonata;" Hindemeth's Solo Violin Sonata, Op. 31, No. 1; and Brahms' Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor. The Hindemith and Brahms are included on Zorman's debut album, which also features music by Messiaen, Schubert, and Chausson, released in Europe by Profil-Editions Gunther Hanssler in spring 2014 (CDs available upon request).

Calgary-based Honens International Piano Competition will begin accepting applications for its eighth edition beginning September 30, 2014. The Competition's Quarterfinals take place in Berlin, London and New York in spring, 2015. Semifinals and Finals take place in Calgary from September 3 to 12, 2015. Pianists of all nationalities, aged 20 to 30 on September 3, 2015 (with the exception of past Honens Laureates and professionally managed pianists), may apply until February 2, 2015 at honens.com.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic and its Music Director Gustavo Dudamel opened the 2014/15 season with A Celebration of John Williams: Opening Night Gala Concert, a star-studded evening honoring the greatest film composer of all time at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Tuesday, September 30. The event featured the LA Phil, led by Dudamel, world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman, soloists Dan Higgins, Glenn Paulson and Michael Valerio, the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and the Los Angeles Children's Chorus, led by Anne Tomlinson and supported by members from the Angeles Chorale. Also showcased were several elaborate video installations created by projection designer Netia Jones and critically-acclaimed creative studio LIGHTMAP. The all-Williams concert program included specially selected works from throughout his impressive career as well as a surprise appearance during the encores.

Principal Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado returns to Carnegie Hall on Thursday, November 6 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, leading Orchestra of St. Luke's in the first of three Carnegie Hall concerts this season as part of the orchestra's 40th anniversary celebration.

Reigning violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman will perform his first New York solo recital since 2007 at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall on Wednesday, December 3, 2014, at 7:30 PM, presented by IMG Artists. Pianist Rohan De Silva, Perlman's longtime recital partner, joins the violinist for a program to include Vivaldi's Sonata in A Major for Violin and Continuo, Op. 2 RV 31; Schumann's Fantasiestucke, Op. 73; Beethoven's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 18; and Ravel's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in G Major, as well as additional works to be announced from the stage.

—“Cathedrals of Sound,” the first Music Unwound concert of Pacific Symphony's season, offers an evening of inspiration, awe and ambience, bathed in waves of sound and reminiscent of the unique spiritual journey taken in 2010, when world-renowned organist Paul Jacobs and the remarkable Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey made their first appearance together with the orchestra. In 2014, the Fathers return to fill the hall with their splendid, sonorous and worshipful voices, and Jacobs performs on the William J. Gillespie Concert Organ for this all-new program. The concert opens with a rarely performed and powerful work of the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, his “Church Windows.” Inspired by stained glass artistry, it is a work that Pacific Symphony recorded in 1983 with founding music director, Keith Clark. Plus, the rich voices of the Fathers perform the Gregorian chants that inspired Maurice Duruflé—whose transcendent “Requiem” concludes the program and features vocalists mezzo-soprano Elise Quagliata, baritone William Berger and Pacific Chorale (Artistic Director John Alexander).

The Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by Music Director Gustavo Dudamel, kicks off its 2014/15 season in grand fashion with a celebration of the greatest film composer of all time at the Opening Night Concert & Gala: A John Williams Celebration, tonight, September 30, 7 pm, atWalt Disney Concert Hall.

To celebrate its 40th anniversary this season, Orchestra of St. Luke's (OSL) turned to works that have been favorites among its musicians and audiences as the starting point for its Chamber Music Series programs. For the season-opening concerts in late October at The Morgan Library & Museum and Brooklyn Museum, the genesis of the program was the Schubert Octet, a work beloved and frequently performed by St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble throughout its history.

MILWAUKEE, WIS. 09/25/2014 – The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong present Tchaikovsky's Fifth on October 17-18, 2014 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. The performances feature Bacewicz's Overture for Orchestra, Lutoslawski's Piano Concerto with Christopher Taylor, and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5.

Orange County, Calif.—Aug. 28, 2014—Pacific Symphony launches Music Director Carl St.Clair's landmark 25th-anniversary “season of giants” with classical music superstar, violinist Joshua Bell, plus two orchestral showpieces, a West Coast premiere and festivities fit for the grand occasion. Bell returns for his fifth performance with the Symphony (he last performed with the Symphony in May 2010) to celebrate the maestro and captivate audiences with the exciting, breakneck theme and stunning Romanticism of Alexander Glazunov's Violin Concerto. Interview Magazine may have summed up the remarkable violinist's playing best by saying, Bell “does nothing less than tell human beings why they bother to live.” The violinist's artistry is exemplified in his new music directorship of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, his release of 40 CDs since the age of 18, multiple television appearances and countless accolades.

Internationally renowned artists Steve Aoki and Pink Martini have joined the Honorary Committee for the 13 th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days, a global network of performances organized by the Daniel Pearl Foundation.

The next edition of their three-time Emmy-nominated HBO Family Documentary Special will be Joshua Bell: A YoungArts MasterClass. Filmed in New York City and London, the program features internationally acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell as he mentors, travels, and performs alongside nine talented young string musicians.