A child prodigy at the age of 13, David Garrett was the youngest exclusive artist with Deutsche Grammophon, and had an international career at the young age of 13 to 17. Garrett then withdrew from the international concert scene – consciously distancing himself from his career – and moved to New York, where he became one of the first students of Itzhak Perlman at the Juilliard School. After his several year hiatus, recommendations by Zubin Mehta prompted invitations leading him to Milan and to Israel in May 2007, where he played 11 concerts with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Garrett solos with the Israel Chamber Orchestra on Tuesday, February 19 at McCarter Theater. Led by conductor Gil Shohat, the program will include the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, which U.S. 1 music writer Elaine Strauss calls “a real crowd pleaser”; Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony; and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.
The Israel Chamber Orchestra repertoire ranges from Vivaldi to Stravinsky, with a special interest in performing great works by Israeli composers such as their music director, Gil Shohat. The Orchestra attaches vital importance to fostering music among the young, and its series, “For the Entire Family” has been enthusiastically acclaimed by both young audiences and professional music critics alike.
Numerous well-known artists have performed with the Orchestra: Mstislav Rostropovich, Vladimir Ahkenazy, Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Shlomo Mintz, Yefim Bronfman, Kryzstof Penderecki, Christoph Eschenbach, Nicholas Kreamer, Yoel Levi, Jean Pierre Rampal, Paul Tortelier, Heinrich Schiff, Heinz Holliger, David Shallon, Tabea Zimmerman, Tamas Vasary, Salvatore Accardo, and many others.
Israel Chamber Orchestra, Tuesday, February 19, 8 p.m., McCarter Theater, 91 University Place. Program with violinist David Garrett and the 36-member group based in Tel Aviv. $43 to $46. 609-258-2787.
