Performance Career
As a recitalist and soloist, Talvi performed extensively in Europe and in the U.S. He was on the faculty of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and the Conservatory of Music in Pori, Finland. Before emigrating to the U.S. he was concertmaster of the Malmö Symphony Orchestra in Sweden. For several years Talvi worked for the famous Bach expert Helmuth Rilling both in Eugene, Oregon, and in Stuttgart, Germany.
In 1984, Talvi left his position as principal second violin of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra to become concertmaster of the Seattle Symphony (under its new music director Gerard Schwarz) and Seattle Opera, a position he held for 20 years. He was also concertmaster of the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center. During his tenure as concertmaster for Seattle Symphony, Talvi premiered and recorded concertos by David Diamond and Stephen Albert, as well as Paul Creston’s “Partita” and Richard Strauss*’ “Ein Heldenleben”, and other orchestral works. Talvi also recorded the Klami violin concerto on Finlandia label. Although Talvi’s personal contract stated that he would be concertmaster for the duration of Schwarz' music director post, in 2004 the Seattle Symphony did not renew Talvi’s contract. Despite setbacks including court ordered arbitration and personal attacks on key figures posted on Talvi's blog, which were retracted under threat of libel, the case was resolved through mediation.
Talvi currently serves as concertmaster for Rainier Symphony, and is affiliated with the Seattle Pacific University as violin instructor.
Read more about this topic: Ilkka Talvi
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