Ivry Gitlis - Life

Life

Born in Haifa, Palestine Mandate, to Jewish immigrants from Russia, Gitlis studied violin at an early age. When violinist Bronisław Huberman first heard him play, he sent him to study at the Conservatoire de Paris, where Gitlis won a first prize, aged 13. His teachers include Carl Flesch, George Enescu, and Jacques Thibaud. In 1951, Gitlis made his debut in Paris.

His first recording, Concerto à la mémoire d'un ange by Alban Berg, won the Grand Prix du Disque in France.

In 1968 he participated in John Lennon's The Dirty Mac project on The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus program.

In 1971 Bruno Maderna wrote Piece for Ivry for him. In 1975 he played a dramatic role as Hypnotist in Francois Truffaut's film "The Story of Adele H".

In 1990 Gitlis was designated UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. His stated aim is the "support of education and culture of peace and tolerance".

Ivry Gitlis is a commentator (along with Itzhak Perlman) all the way through the DVD "The Art of Violin" (2000) which showcases performances and gives biographical details of many of the great violinists of the 20th Century.

Since the end of the sixties, Gitlis has resided in Paris, France.

At various stages in his career, he played on a 1699 Rogeri (which he sold to famed violin author Sidney Bowden), the 1737 "Chant du Cygne" Stradivarius, and the "Ysaye" Guarnerius del Gesu. Ivry currently owns the "Sancy" Stradivarius of 1713.