Renowned Israeli violinist Ivry Gitlis passed away on Dec. 24, 2020 at age 98. He died in Paris, where he had lived since the late 1960s. Over his very long and prolific career, Gitlis performed with many of the world’s premier symphony orchestras, but he also played with rock stars and jazz bands. In 1990, Gitlis was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. He said his aim in that role was the “support of education and culture of peace and tolerance.” In Hebrew, the name “Ivry” means a Hebrew man.
Quote: “Dear young colleagues of the up-and-coming generation, please have the courage to be yourselves, to take risks and not be copies of your recordings or of others’. Practice your instrument in order to free yourself from any psycho-technical constraint, to be able to create when you play. Listen to your inner ear, which is connected directly to your heart and spirit, the one that tells you what you feel is you! And the one you don’t feel isn’t you. Remember that a beautiful ‘wrong’ note by a Kreisler, a Thibaud, a Casals or a Callas is worth more than a thousand so-called ‘right’ notes, and playing that [which] is hygienically and clinically correct is not necessarily a sign of good health! Take heart! Good health to you!”
Sources: Wikipedia
Learn more about Ivry Gitlis on Wikipedia. >>
Read “Ivry Gitlis, maverick Israeli violinist who dazzled audiences with virtuoso pyrotechnics — obituary” >>
Watch “Bach — Chaconne — Gitlis” [15:30]. >>
Watch “Ivry Talks About Life” [6:03]. >>
Photo: The Violin Channel
