An unsigned article in Tuesday’s (9/8) Toronto Star reports, “Jacques Israelievitch, a renowned violinist and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s longest-serving concertmaster, has died. He was 67…. Israelievitch was diagnosed with lung cancer in February.” Born in Cannes, France, he “debuted on French radio at age 11, graduated from the Paris Conservatory at 16 … and began his orchestral career at 23, as assistant concertmaster with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. After a decade-long tenure with the St. Louis Symphony, Israelievitch became concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, a position he would hold for 20 years…. Besides playing with many of the world’s major orchestras, Israelievitch performed as a chamber musician with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianists Emanuel Ax and Yefim Bronfman.” His discography includes Ernest Bloch’s Suite hébraique (with pianist John Greer) and the “first complete recording of Rodolphe Kreutzer’s 42 Studies for Solo Violin.” In August of this year Israelievitch “was presented with the Order of Canada in a ceremony at his Toronto home.” He is survived by his wife, Gabrielle, three sons, and two grandchildren.
Posted September 9, 2015
