Itzhak Perlman is an undisputed superstar among modern classical violinists. If he is accustomed to sold-out houses whenever he performs, he doesn’t take it for granted, as though it is the expected result of a public appearance but rather, he booms, “Good! I’m very happy.”
A Grammy winner 15 times over, Perlman prepares for his performance at the Music Center at Strathmore with the audience and himself in mind. In an afternoon recital, he plays with his long-time collaborator, pianist Rohan De Silva.
| ONSTAGE |
| Itzhak Perlman |
| » Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda |
| » When: 4 p.m. Sunday |
| » Info: $55 to $115, available at wpas.org or 202-785-9727 |
“All of these are pieces I would personally like to hear,” he said of a repertoire that features Beethoven’s Sonata No. 7 in C minor, Mozart’s Sonata in B-flat Major and the Sonata No. 1 in D minor by Camille Saint-Saens.
“People enjoy hearing [the Beethoven] it and I always look forward to playing it,” he said. “It is a gorgeous, most dramatic sonata.”
Of the Mozart sonata he maintains that, unlike many of the composer’s works that showcase the piano, this particular romantic sonata features virtuoso writing for equal parts violin and piano and notes it is “almost like perpetual motion between the two instruments.”
“The first time I heard the Saint-Saens, I knew I wanted to play it. I said, ‘Gee, I’d like to play that!'” he said.
When asked about other piano and violin pieces, he is silent a few seconds before saying, “Hmm, we’ll see how the mood strikes us.” Usually those pieces are transcriptions by great composers and violinists [such as] Fritz Kreisler and Jascha Heifetz. These are very virtuosic [works] and express the style of the fiddle player. I like to give [them] as examples.”
As for bantering with the audience, Perlman will wait to see how it goes.
No longer a fan of the traveling aspect of touring, Perlman now avoids it when possible, preferring instead to do “run outs,” which consist of one or two performances at a time.
These days, Perlman leads what he calls, “a three-prong musical activity,” made up of concerts, conducting major orchestras and, of course, teaching with his wife, Toby, at their Perlman Music Program, an intensive summer school and mentoring program for young string musicians.
A burning question begs asking: Is there another Perlman out there somewhere?
The man who is known for his sense of humor almost as much as his playing quips, “Not by that name, not so far.”
Joking aside, he says he does observe many wonderful young violinists coming to the fore, saying, “as we speak, somebody out there is practicing and hoping to make something of the future and I’m sure it will be.”
