Renowned Violinist to Conduct Master Class

Renowned Violinist to Conduct Master Class

BY DAVID KAPLAN
Rice News Staff
October 28, 1999

Fans of Isaac Stern will soon have an opportunity to get to know the man behind the legend.

One of the foremost violinists of the century, Stern will be at the Shepherd School of Music Nov. 2 for two events. At 4 p.m. in Stude Concert Hall he will conduct a master class with Shepherd School students, and at 7:30 p.m. in Stude Hall he will reflect on his life in music and discuss his new memoir, “Isaac Stern: My First 79 Years” (Alfred A. Knopf).

Raphael Fliegel, former concertmaster and principal second violinist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, will join Stern on stage for the evening discussion. Fliegel is professor emeritus of violin at the Shepherd School. A book signing will follow their conversation.

Co-sponsored by the Shepherd School of Music and Brazos Bookstore, both events are free and open to the public.

In the past 60 years, Stern has played with every major conductor on the world stage, and until recently he gave 60 concerts a year. With more than 100 recordings, Stern is among the most recorded musical artists of our time, with works ranging from the standard repertoire to contemporary.

Stern’s career also spans film and television. The film “From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China” won the Academy Award for best full-length documentary in ’81, and he played violin on the “Fiddler on the Roof” soundtrack. He was featured on the Emmy Award-winning CBS broadcast of “Carnegie Hall: The Grand Reopening.”

Stern had more than a little to do with the reopening. He has been president of Carnegie Hall for more than 35 years and led the drive to save the hall from destruction in ’60 and to restore it in ’86.

Throughout his career Stern has been known for nurturing talented young musicians. He is the first recipient of the Albert Schweitzer Music Award for a “life dedicated to music and devoted to humanity.” Stern has been honored with many prestigious awards, including the President’s Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian award, and he has received some of the highest national honors from France, Japan, Denmark and Israel.

Stern’s memoir recounts his remarkable life in music. He was brought to America from Russia when he was a baby. Stern made his formal symphony orchestra debut while still in his teens. That San Francisco Symphony concert was broadcast nationally. Since then, Stern has been an internationally-revered figure in the world of classical music.

For more information call the Shepherd School concert office at (713) 527-4933 or Brazos Bookstore at (713) 523-0701.