"Orchestra Online" with guest Itzhak Perlman

Violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman is the featured speaker this week for Professor Paul Phillips's Fall 2020 class on orchestral music, "Orchestra Online," viewable on Zoom. | RSVP required for non-Stanford attendees. There are a limited number of guest reservations available.

Undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman enjoys superstar status rarely afforded a classical musician. Beloved for his charm and humanity, as well as his talent, he is treasured by audiences throughout the world. In January 2009, Mr. Perlman was honored to take part in the Inauguration of President Barack Obama, premiering a piece written for the occasion by John Williams. In December 2003, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts granted Mr. Perlman a Kennedy Center Honor celebrating his distinguished achievements and contributions to the cultural and educational life of our nation. 

Born in Israel in 1945, Mr. Perlman completed his initial training at the Academy of Music in Tel Aviv. He came to New York and soon was propelled into the international arena with an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1958. Following his studies at the Juilliard School with Ivan Galamian and Dorothy DeLay, Mr. Perlman won the prestigious Leventritt Competition in 1964, which led to a burgeoning worldwide career. Since then, Itzhak Perlman has appeared with every major orchestra and in recitals and festivals around the world. He has entertained and enlightened millions of TV viewers with appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, Sesame Street, the PBS series The Frugal Gourmet, The Tonight Show, Grammy awards telecasts, and Live From Lincoln Center broadcasts.

Mr. Perlman has performed as conductor with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony, National Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the symphony orchestras of San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Montreal, and Toronto, as well as at the Ravinia and OK Mozart festivals. Internationally, Mr. Perlman has conducted the Berlin Philharmonic, Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Philharmonic, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the Israel Philharmonic.

Photo: Itzhak Perlman about to play the National Anthem at Citi Field in New York City in 2016. (By Noah Perlman - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64195645)