A Glimpse of Itzhak Perlman

The Mayerson Artistic Excellence Program hosted Itzhak Perlman at the School for Creative & Performing Arts in April.

The first few notes of Itzhak Perlman’s rehearsal of Bruch’s compelling First Concerto with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra were quiet, scratchy, unremarkable.  Not surprising considering the 72 year-old superstar of classical music had just flown into CVG to prepare for his evening concert and then fly out again that night.  What is surprising – time after time – is the way Itzhak Perlman can transport an audience to another place through his mastery of the violin.  Within moments of beginning rehearsal, the tone and expressiveness of this beloved virtuoso took us all by surprise.

 

And the only audience in the cavernous Taft Theater yesterday afternoon were the 30 or so orchestra students from the School for Creative & Performing Arts – some of whom brought along their own violin cases having just come from their lessons.  We all sat transfixed as we watched this gentleman struggle from his wheelchair – paralyzed by polio at the age of four – to his crutches, and gingerly mount the podium from which he and CSO Conductor, Louis Langree, would lead the orchestra.