Violinist Ivry Gitlis Has Passed Away, Aged 98

A student of Carl Flesch, George Enescu, and Jacques Thibaud, he will be remembered as one of the most talented musicians of the 20th Century

Israeli violinist Ivry Gitlis has died in Paris, aged 98.

He received his first violin at the age of five and gave his first concert at age ten.

When violinist and founder of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Bronislav Huberman heard Gitlis play, he sent the young violinist to study at the Conservatoire de Paris. Gitlis went on to win the conservatory's first prize at age 13.

He debuted in the U.S. in 1955 and toured the world, playing under the top conductors and with the very best orchestras, including the New York, Berlin, Vienna, and Israel Philharmonics.

A father of four, three of whom with the German actress Sabine Glaser, Gitlis continued giving concerts until very late in his life.

“I’m speechless and deeply saddened about the loss of the one and only, Ivry Gitlis,” cellist Mischa Maisky said today.

"I am immensely saddened," violinist Gautier Capuçon wrote.

"So very, very sad to have to accept the passing of the great, the unique, the so deeply loveable, glorious, the irreplaceable (and frequently impossible!) Ivry Gitlis. There'll never be another like him," cellist Steven Isserlis said via twitter.

Our condolences to Mr. Gitlis' family, friends, colleagues, and students.

IVRY GITLIS & TASSO JANOPOULO | ELGAR | "LA CAPRICIEUSE" | 1962