Biography
Isaac Stern earned recognition as a preeminent violinist throughout the twentieth century through performances with leading symphonic ensembles and a wide array of concerts and recitals. Across more than fifty years his exceptional artistry brought enjoyment to listeners around the world.
Russia was his birthplace in 1920, yet he came to be identified as an American violinist after his parents relocated him to the United States at ten months of age. He spent his childhood in San Francisco and received his schooling through the public system there. Violin lessons began at home when he turned eight, and he subsequently studied with Naourn Blinder, conductor of the San Francisco Symphony. At age thirteen he presented his first recital.
His initial professional appearance took place in 1936 with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in a nationally broadcast performance of the Brahms Violin Concerto conducted by Pierre Monteux. Subsequent engagements included a 1937 concert at New York’s Town Hall and a 1943 appearance at Carnegie Hall. For three decades he toured across the country as a soloist and in collaboration with symphonies and orchestras. In 1961 he formed a trio with cellist Leonard Rose and pianist Eugene Istomin.
Stern focused his career on the standard classical repertory and became known for his performances of works by Penderecki, Schuman, Bernstein, and Peter Maxwell Davies. For fifty years he recorded exclusively for the Sony Classical label, releasing more than one hundred albums that featured compositions by over sixty-three composers. In 1985 he received the label’s first “Artist Laureate” designation for his sustained contributions and loyalty. A forty-four-disc retrospective appeared in 1995 under the title Isaac Stern: A Life in Music.
Throughout his life Stern committed himself to bringing classical violin music to audiences, and his achievements received numerous honors. In 1974 he was appointed Commander of the French Ordre de la Couronne, named a Fellow of Jerusalem, and awarded the Commander’s Cross by the Danish government. He served as president of Carnegie Hall for more than thirty years. One of the early recipients of the Albert Schweitzer Music Award, he also received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1984. The American Symphony Orchestra presented him with its Gold Baton in 1987. President Bush awarded him the National Medal of the Arts in 1991, and he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom the following year. Honorary degrees were conferred by Bucknell University, Columbia University, Harvard, the Curtis Institute of Music, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins, Oxford, Juilliard, and Yale. Amid such recognition Stern also saw the importance of nurturing new talent, and toward the end of his life he devoted time to teaching young musicians. He died of heart failure in New York City on September 22, 2001.
Russia was his birthplace in 1920, yet he came to be identified as an American violinist after his parents relocated him to the United States at ten months of age. He spent his childhood in San Francisco and received his schooling through the public system there. Violin lessons began at home when he turned eight, and he subsequently studied with Naourn Blinder, conductor of the San Francisco Symphony. At age thirteen he presented his first recital.
His initial professional appearance took place in 1936 with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in a nationally broadcast performance of the Brahms Violin Concerto conducted by Pierre Monteux. Subsequent engagements included a 1937 concert at New York’s Town Hall and a 1943 appearance at Carnegie Hall. For three decades he toured across the country as a soloist and in collaboration with symphonies and orchestras. In 1961 he formed a trio with cellist Leonard Rose and pianist Eugene Istomin.
Stern focused his career on the standard classical repertory and became known for his performances of works by Penderecki, Schuman, Bernstein, and Peter Maxwell Davies. For fifty years he recorded exclusively for the Sony Classical label, releasing more than one hundred albums that featured compositions by over sixty-three composers. In 1985 he received the label’s first “Artist Laureate” designation for his sustained contributions and loyalty. A forty-four-disc retrospective appeared in 1995 under the title Isaac Stern: A Life in Music.
Throughout his life Stern committed himself to bringing classical violin music to audiences, and his achievements received numerous honors. In 1974 he was appointed Commander of the French Ordre de la Couronne, named a Fellow of Jerusalem, and awarded the Commander’s Cross by the Danish government. He served as president of Carnegie Hall for more than thirty years. One of the early recipients of the Albert Schweitzer Music Award, he also received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1984. The American Symphony Orchestra presented him with its Gold Baton in 1987. President Bush awarded him the National Medal of the Arts in 1991, and he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom the following year. Honorary degrees were conferred by Bucknell University, Columbia University, Harvard, the Curtis Institute of Music, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins, Oxford, Juilliard, and Yale. Amid such recognition Stern also saw the importance of nurturing new talent, and toward the end of his life he devoted time to teaching young musicians. He died of heart failure in New York City on September 22, 2001.
Albums

Mozart: Violin Concertos No. 1 - 5, Sinfonia Concertante, Concertone
2025

Haydn, Mendelssohn & Tchaikovsky
2023

Bartók: Violin Concerto No. 1, Sz. 36 - Viotti: Violin Concerto No. 22 in A Minor
2023

Isaac Stern Plays Favorite Melodies for the Quiet Hours
2023

Mozart: Divertimento for Violin, Viola and Cello, K. 563
2023

Franck: Violin Sonata in A Major, FWV 8
2023

Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky
2021

Isaac Stern Live, Vol. 7
2021

Milestones of a Legend: Isaac Stern, Vol. 3
2021

Vivaldi: Violin Concertos
2021

The Great Classical Music #128 : Maurice Ravel // Igor Stravinskij // Béla Bartók
2020

The Great Classical Music #138 : Franz Schubert, César Franck, Samuel Barber
2020

The Great Classical Music #122 : Claude Debussy // Petr Ijič Čajkovskij
2020

Enescu: Violin Sonata No. 3 - Dvorák: 4 Romantic Pieces - F.A.E. Sonata
2020

Tchaikovsky & Bach: Violin Concertos
2020

Isaac Stern Plays and Conducts Vivaldi The Four Seasons
2020

Mendelssohn: Trios 1 & 2
2020

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto & Méditation
2020

The Classic Melodies of Japan
2020

Brahms: Violin Concerto, Op. 77
2020

Beethoven: The Complete Piano Trios for Piano, Violin and Cello
2020

Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 3, K. 216 & Sinfonia concertante, K. 364
2020

Lalo: Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21 - Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26
2020

Mozart: Quartets for Flute, Violin, Viola and Cello
2020

Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100 & Clarinet Sonata No. 2, Op. 120 No. 2
2020

Brahms: Piano Trios Nos. 1-3
2020

Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77 & Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra, Op. 102
2020

Bach: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 & Concerto for Violin, Oboe and Orchestra in C Minor
2020

Prokofiev: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
2020

None but the Lonely Heart - Isaac Stern Plays Great Violin Favorites
2020

Dvorák: Violin Concerto & Romance for Violin and Orchestra
2020

Bloch: Baal Shem & Violin Sonata No. 1
2020

Schubert: Piano Trio No. 1
2020

Brahms: Violin Sonatas 1, 2 & 3 - Dietrich & Schumann & Brahms: F.A.E. Sonata
2020

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35, Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64
2020

Prokoviev: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
2020

Vivaldi: Concerto for 2 Violins in A Minor, RV 522 - Bach: Violin Concertos 1 & 2
2020

Franck: Violin Sonata in A Major, FWV 8 - Debussy: Violin Sonata, L. 140
2020

Wieniavski: Concerto No. 2, Op. 22 - Saint-Saens: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28 - Ravel: Tzigane
2020

J.S. Bach: Violin Sonatas E Minor and E Major - C.P.E. Bach: Violin Sonata in G Minor, H. 542
2020

Händel: Sonata in D Major, Op. 1, No. 3 - Tartini: Violin Sonata in G Minor, Op. 1, No. 10
2020

Brahms: Quintet No. 2 in G Major - Schumann: Quintet in E-Flat Major
2020

Prokofiev: Sonata in F Minor, Op. 80 & Sonata in D Major, Op. 94
2020

Schubert: String Quintet in C Major, Op. 161
2020

Vignettes for Violin
2020

Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77
2020

Brahms: Trio No.1 in B Major, Op. 8
2020

Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 18
2020

Mozart: Sinfonia concertante in E-Flat Major, K. 364
2020

Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47
2020

Mozart: Piano Quartet in E-Flat Major, K. 493
2020

De Falla: Suite populaire espagnole - Hindemith: Sonata (1940)
2020

Isaac Stern Plays Bach at the Prades Festival
2020

Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 3 - Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 7
2020

Violin Selections from "Humoresque"
2020

Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 26 - Haydn: Violin Concerto No. 1
2020

Isaac Stern in Violin Favorites
2020

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
2020

Bartók: Violin Sonata No. 1, Sz. 75
2020

Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64
2020

Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 22
2020

George Szell: Concertos & Symphonies
2019

Milestones of a Viola Legend: William Primrose, Vol. 3
2019

Milestones of a Legend: Isaac Stern, Vol. 10
2018

Milestones of a Legend: Isaac Stern, Vol. 8
2018

Milestones of a Legend: Isaac Stern, Vol. 2
2018

Milestones of a Legend: Isaac Stern, Vol. 5
2018

Milestones of a Legend: Isaac Stern, Vol. 6
2018

Milestones of a Legend: Isaac Stern, Vol. 7
2018

Barber: Violin Concerto, Op. 14 - Hindemith: Violin Concerto
2018

Bartók: Rhapsodies No. 1 and No. 2 - Berg: Violin Concerto
2018

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61
2018

Isaac Stern and Yefim Bronfman Play Mozart Violin Sonatas
2017

Beethoven: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, Op. 61
2017

Beethoven: Triple Concerto, Op. 56 - Brahms: Double Concerto, Op 102
2016

Édouard Lalo: Spanish Symphony in D minor, Op. 21 - Ludwig Van Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
2015

Isaac Stern Plays Brahms
2014

Schubert: Piano Trio No. 1; Brahms: String Quintet No. 2; Bach: Sarabande & Double from Partita No. 1, BWV 1002
2014

Dvorák: Chamber Music
2014

Brahms: Double Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Minor, Op. 102
2013

Isaac Stern plays Mozart
2013

Schubert: Piano Trio No. 1 - Mozart: Piano Quartet No. 2 - Haydn: Piano Trio No. 10
2011

L'âme du violon
2011

Bartók: Violin Concerto No. 2 in B Minor, Sz.112
2010

Keeping the Doors Open
2010

Barber: Violin Concerto, Op. 14
2009

The Essential Isaac Stern
2008

Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos. 1, 3 & 5
2007

Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole; Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 [Great Performances]
2006

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos
2006

Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77 & Double Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Minor, Op. 102
2005

Caprice Viennois: Music of Fritz Kreisler
2004

Humoresque - Favorite Violin Encores [Expanded Edition]
2004

Super Hits - The Violin
2004

Beethoven: Complete Symphonies; Violin Concerto; Overtures
2002

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 73 "Emperor" & Triple Concerto, Op. 56
2002

Isaac Stern - My First 79 Years
1999

Isaac Stern Plays Mozart, Beethoven & Haydn
1998

Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61 & Overtures
1998

Bernstein: The Age of Anxiety & Serenade after Plato's "Symposium"
1998

Bartók: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2
1997

Bartók: Violin Sonatas No. 1 & 2 - Webern: 4 Pieces
1996

Brahms: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 3
1996

Mozart: Violin Sonatas, Vol. 3
1996

Isaac Stern - A Life in Music IV - Box Set
1996

Beethoven: The Violin Sonatas
1996

Schubert: Violin Sonatas; Haydn: Violin Concerto
1996

Hindemith & Copland: Violin Sonatas - Bloch: Violin Sonata & Baal Shem
1996

Franck, Debussy & Enesco: Violin Sonatas
1996

Bach, Handel & Tartini: Violin Sonatas
1996

Bartók: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2 - Webern: 4 Pieces for Violin & Piano, Op. 7
1996

Prokofiev: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2
1996

Encores
1996

Brahms: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1, 2 & 3
1996

Penderecki: Violin Concerto
1995

Isaac Stern: A Life in Music, Vol. 21
1995

Beethoven: Piano Trios & Variations, Vol. 2
1995

Schubert & Haydn: Piano Trios - Mozart: Piano Quartet
1995

Encores with Orchestra
1995

Trio Sonatas of Telemann & The Bach Family
1995

Mendelssohn: Piano Trios, Opp. 49 & 66
1995

Lalo: Symphonie espagnole; Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3; etc.
1995

Stravinsky & Rochberg: Violin Concertos
1995

Isaak Stern - A Life in Music Vol. 10: Prokofiev - Concerto Nos. 1 & 2 for Violin and Orchestra; Bartók: Rhapsody Nos. 1 & 2 for Violin and Orchestra
1995

Bernstein: Serenade - Dutilleux: L'arbre des songes
1995

Barber/Maxwell Davies: Violin Concertos
1995

Isaac Stern - A Life in Music: Box Set I
1995

Beethoven & Brahms: Concertos
1995

Mozart: Violin Sonatas
1995

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Concertos for Two and Three Violins
1995

Tchaikovsky & Sibelius: Violin Concertos
1995

Mozart: Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250 "Haffner"
1995

Mendelssohn & Dvorák: Violin Concertos
1995

Hindemith & Penderecki: Violin Concertos
1995

Wieniawski/Bruch/Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos
1995

Brahms: Greatest Hits
1994

Mozart: Violin Sonatas, K. 454, 296 & 526
1994

Bach: Violin Concertos BWV 1041, 1042, 1043, 1060
1994

Schubert: String Quintet & Symphony No. 5
1993

Brahms: String Sextet in B-Flat Major, Op. 18 & Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op. 8
1993

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto & Serenade for Strings
1993

The Complete Beethoven Trios, Vol. 2
1991

The Isaac Stern Collection: The Early Concerto Recordings, Vol. 2
1991

Brahms: Double Concerto, Op. 102 - Berg: Chamber Concerto
1990

Vivaldi: 6 Double Concertos
1990

The Isaac Stern Collection: The Trio Recordings, Vol. 1
1990

The Isaac Stern Collection - The Early Concerto Recordings, Vol. I
1990

The Isaac Stern Collection: The Early Concerto Recordings, Vol. 1
1990

Rameau: Pièces de clavecin en concerts
1990

Webern: Complete Works, Op. 1 - Op. 31
1990

Humoresque: Favorite Violin Encores
1990

The Japanese Album
1989

Schubert: Works for Violin & Piano
1989

Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos. 4 & 5
1989

Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos. 2 & 4
1988

Dutilleux: L'arbre des songes - Davies: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra
1987

Berg: Chamber Concerto & Violin Concerto
1986

Brahms & Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos
1986

Tchaikovsky & Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos
1986

Celebration - Life With Music
1985

Bach & Vivaldi: Concerti for 2 Violins
1983

Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64 - Beethoven: Romances Nos. 1 & 2
1983

Haydn: London Trios
1983

Vivaldi: Le quattro stagioni
1983

Lalo: Symphonie espagnole - Bruch: Vioin Concerto No. 1
1967

Brahms: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1-3
1960

Bartók: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
1958

Lalo: Symphonie espagnole - Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1
1956
Live

Rachmaninoff, Bartók & Viotti (Live)
2023

Isaac Stern, Vol. 11 (Live)
2022

Isaac Stern, Vol. 10 (Live)
2021

Isaac Stern, Vol. 9 (Live)
2021

Isaac Stern, Vol. 8 (Live)
2021

Isaac Stern & Pinchas Zukerman (Live)
2021

Isaac Stern, Vol. 6 (Live)
2021

Isaac Stern, Vol. 5 (Live)
2021

Isaac Stern, Vol. 4 (Live)
2021

Isaac Stern, Vol. 1 (Live)
2020

Milestones of a Legend: Isaac Stern, Vol. 4 (Live)
2018

Milestones of a Legend: Isaac Stern, Vol. 1 (Live)
2018

Huberman Festival 1982 (Live)
2015

Mozart & Brahms: Violin Concerti (Live)
2014

W.A. Mozart: Violin Concerto No.3 in G Major, K. 216 (Live recording, Lausanne 1976)
2009

Bach: Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043 & Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (Live)
1987

Isaac Stern: 60th Anniversary Celebration (Live)
1981
