By Eileen Wingard
SAN DIEGO–Lighting up the musical firmament over an eight day period in February, four outstanding Israeli musicians will be featured in performances in our fair city.
Super Star Itzhak Perlman will present a Violin Recital in Copley Symphony Hall on Sunday evening, February 18. Eight days later, Israeli Pianist Ory Shihor will perform a program in the Dove Library in Carlsbad on Sunday afternoon, February 26 at 2:00 p.m. In between, Tuesday evening, February 21, two rising stars, violinist Asi Matathias and pianist Victor Stanislavsky will play in the intimacy of a private estate in Rancho Santa Fe.
Perlman, one of the finest violinists in the world today is admired for his remarkable technical mastery and warm sound. His advocacy for the handicapped (a childhood bout with polio limits his mobility), his role as an educator and conductor, his great sense of humor and warm personality have endeared him to audiences during a career which spans over four decades.
Pianist Ory Shihor was hailed by New York Newsday as “the first important Israeli pianist to come along in years.” The recipient of America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarships from the time he was 12 years old, Shihor is a graduate of both the Curtis Institute and the Juilliard School. He has performed extensively in the US and Israel, in venues such as the Kennedy Center and the Phillips Gallery in Washington D.C., the Ravinia Festival in Chicago and with the Haifa Symphony. He is Co-director of the Piano Department at the prestigious Colburn School in Los Angeles.
Violinist Asi Matathias now uses a Guarneri del Gesu 1749 violin which was obtained for him by his teacher, Pinchas Zuckerman. At 14, he played with the Israel Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta. Victor Stanislavsky, who recently participated in the Van Cliburn Competition, will be performing in the Chicago Cultural Center before coming to San Diego. Both young artists have received critical acclaim for their previous appearances in San Diego and have developed a strong following.
For information on the Perlman Recital, call: 619-235-0804.
For information on the Shihor performance, call: 858-362-1348
For information on the Matathias-Stanislavsky performance, call: 858-454-0781.
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Wingard is a freelance writer and retired violinist witht he San Diego Symphony. She may be contacted at eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com