Toronto symphony's concertmaster stepping down
Last Updated: Thursday, September 13, 2007 | 11:59 AM ET
CBC News
Violinist Jacques Israelievitch is stepping down as the concertmaster for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra after 20 years at the post.
"I've been considering retiring from orchestra life for a while. The end of my 20th season with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra seems to be the perfect time, being the longest concertmaster tenure in the orchestra's history," Israelievitch told CBCNews.ca.
Concertmaster Jacques Israelievitch, a French-born violinist and conductor, is retiring after 20 years with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. (Courtesy of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra)
"I need more free time to pursue all the other musical activities that I love: conducting, solo and chamber music playing, teaching and recording."
Israelievitch also said he plans to stay involved in the musical life of Toronto and looks forward to travelling more.
"It has been a privilege to have Jacques at my side," said TSO music director Peter Oundjian in a news release on Wednesday. "I have enjoyed the benefit of his exemplary musicianship, his knowledge of the repertoire, and his musical leadership of our fine string section."
A concertmaster is the leader of the first violin section of a symphony orchestra and is in charge of tuning and other technical aspects.
The French-born Israelievitch made his solo debut on French radio at the age of 11 and graduated from the Paris National Conservatory at 16.
At 23, he was appointed assistant concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony, the youngest musician in that orchestra ever to have the position. Six seasons later, in 1978, he moved on to the St. Louis Symphony, also as concertmaster.
He took his post at the TSO in 1988 and will officially step down next spring.
Israelievitch has been a soloist, conductor and chamber musician, collaborating with the likes of Sir Georg Solti, Gunther Herbig, Leonard Slatkin, Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax.
As well, he's led several orchestras, including the TSO, the Buffalo Philharmonic and many others in Europe and in Asia.
Israelievitch was nominated for a Juno for Suite Hébraique and his discography includes the works of Beethoven, Greig and Mozart.
In 2006, he released the world's first-ever complete recording of Rodolphe Kreutzer's 42 études ou caprices, to much acclaim. Kreutzer was one of the founding fathers of the French school of violin playing at the Conservatory, where he was a professor from 1795 until 1826.
Israelievitch is an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in France, one of that country's highest cultural honours.
The TSO will mark his departure with celebratory concerts June 7 and 8, 2008.
The tribute will be broadcast on CBC Radio 2 on Sunday Afternoon in Concert, hosted by Bill Richardson.
