Itzhak Perlman

Renowned for his masterful command of the violin, precise attention to detail, and straightforward interpretive style, Israeli artist Itzhak Perlman enjoys worldwide acclaim for his commanding performances of works from the 19th and 20th centuries. Polio struck when he was four, leaving him unable to use his legs, yet he soon commenced lessons at Shulamit High School in Tel-Aviv. By the time he reached ten, he was already appearing in recitals and concerts alongside the Israel Broadcasting Orchestra. A successful talent competition secured him a spot on American television, which in turn brought scholarships and prizes that financed his move to New York for studies at the Juilliard School under Galamian. His first professional engagement took place at Carnegie Hall; two years later, in 1964, he captured the Leventritt Memorial Competition, opening doors to collaborations with numerous American ensembles, among them the New York Philharmonic. In 1965 he returned to his homeland for a series of performances across Israel, and three years afterward he made his initial appearance in Britain, joining the London Symphony Orchestra at Festival Hall. During the 1968-9 season he took part in the London South Bank Summer Music Series, and in 1970 he established a violin master class at Meadowbrook Festival in the United States.