Perlman Visits Dayton

            At the beginning of the year, in 1974, Itzhak Perlman performed on stage with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert took place on January 16^th at the Memorial Hall in downtown Dayton.[1] This concert was the 5^th in the 41^st season of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. They played, alongside Itzhak Perlman, Mendelssohn’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E Minor, Opus 64, as well as Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy, Opus 25. It was the first time that this Sarasate piece had been performed in Dayton, professionally.[2]

            Perlman was born in 1945 in Israel. At the age of 4, he developed Polio, which paralyzed his legs. Despite this hindrance, he proceeded to study violin and even though many doubted his dreams, he more than succeeded. For decades Perlman has performed all over the globe. He has received 15 Grammys and is renowned for his phenomenal musical ability.[3]

 

(http://www.minnpost.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_detail/images/articles/itzhak-perlman_main.jpg)

            The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra was first started in 1933. Prior to the opening of the Schuster Center, many concerts were held in the Memorial Hall in downtown Dayton. This is where Perlman originally played, during his 1974 performance. He also played there in a subsequent performance in the 1980s.[4]

            In January of 1974, Itzhak Perlman, James B. Porter of the Journal Herald wrote an article after interviewing Perlman. Porter discusses Perlman’s performance on the 16^th with the Dayton Philharmonic. He states that Perlman is “one of the greatest violinists of our time” and that “Perlman was magnificent in his showcase of violin virtuosity. Brilliant playing indeed.”[5]

            He returned to Dayton a number of other times. So far, he has made a total of 5 appearances in Dayton with the Philharmonic Orchestra. The most recent time was in 2006. This time he played Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5.[6] This was his first performance held in the Schuster Center, which was not completed until 2003.[7]

---

[1] Journal Herald Clipping, James B. Porter. January 17^th, 1974, MS-314, box 25, file 9, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University.

[2]  Concert Program, January 16^th, 1974, MS-314, box 30, file 1, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Special Collection and Archives, Wright State University.

[3] “Itzhak Perlman,” Biography. November 10^th, 2014.  http://www.biography.com/people/itzhak-perlman-9437933#awards-and-youth-program.

[4] Carole Judge and Laura Januzzi, A New Beginning: The Dayton Philharmonic’s 70^th Anniversary Commemorative Book.  (Dayton: Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, 2003), 33.

[5] Journal Herald Clipping, James B. Porter. January 17^th, 1974, MS-314, box 25, file 9. Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University.

[6] “Itzhak Perlman to Kick-off Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2006-2007 Special Events Thursday, October 12.” Dayton Performing Arts. November 10^th, 2014. https://daytonperformingarts.org/content.jsp?articleId=719.

[7] Carole Judge and Laura Januzzi, A New Beginning: The Dayton Philharmonic’s 70^th Anniversary Commemorative Book.  (Dayton: Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, 2003), 60.