Boris Garlitsky - Violin Masterclass

Professor Boris Garlitsky teaches Leonard Toschev from Germany.

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“Boris Garlitsky is an extremely lively musician of high intelligence and flexibility, with a wonderfully round tone and solid reliable technique … Concert Master of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Mr. Garlitsky measures up to every Concert Master of the world’s top orchestras, such as New York, Vienna, Berlin, etc., and can play an outstanding role in all leading international orchestras.”

These are the words of Kurt Masur, one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, with whom Boris Garlitsky worked together throughout many years. And still, Mr. Masur’s words grasp but a part of Boris Garlitsky’s musical richness.

In 1982, Boris Garlitsky won the Italian Paganini Competition and began his career as a soloist. Since then, he has played, among others, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Radio Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia as well as the Milan-based Giuseppe Verdi Orchestra and the British Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. His interpretations of Shostakovich’s violin concerto with the Orchestra National de Lyon were praised in the press. “The intensity and irresistible force of persuasion brought to it by all the skill of Boris Garlitsky was worthy of the work’s first interpreter, David Oistrakh”, the Lyon Figaro commented.

Mr. Garlitsky is an active participator in several international music festivals. He regularly takes part in the Pablo Casals Festival in France, Mostly Mozart in New York, the London Proms, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, and Gidon Kremer’s Chamber Music Festival at Lockenhaus in Austria. Also, Mr. Garlitsky performs for the BBC, Radio France as well as a number of radio stations in Italy, Russia, and the United States. He has recorded for RCA, Naxos, Chandos, and Polymnie.

“Boris Garlitsky was a worthy partner of Anne-Sophie Mutter in Bach’s double concerto, performed together with the London Philharmonic… Let us concentrate on the gigantic chaconne from the Partita in d minor for violin solo: Mr. Garlitsky’s interpretation as such made this a concert of outstanding class. Highly differentiated and uniquely colorful in play, Mr. Garlitsky’s brilliant intellectual understanding of the piece and expressive characterization of the individual variations reflected the authenticity and individual depth of the artist’s Bach interpretation” (Dr. Karl Georg Berg). Garlitsky is an outstanding chamber musician and member of the Hermitage String Trio, praised right and left in critical reviews: “… undoubtedly one of finest of its type, with discipline and musicianship second to none”(www.classicalsource.com); “true brilliance! This ensemble will do much to put more string trio repertoire on the musical map” (Strad); “with virtuosic elegance and, above all, affection” (Hexham and District Music Society); “that gentle exaltation of chamber music which passes by the dramatic gestures of symphonic music but rather expresses intimate and the profound, which goes straight to the heart and transports you to a dream” (Nice Matin).

Mr. Garlitsky’s repertoire is amazingly rich. Among his partners are Pinchas Zuckerman, Gidon Kremer, Marta Argerich, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Vadim Repin, Truls Mork, Maria-Joao Pires. Last but not least, Mr. Garlitsky is so popular among his colleagues due to his amiable character. “Garlitsky’s charisma is glaringly obvious. And how! The first violin of such imposing presence is a blessing for any ensemble” (La Montagne). Born in Russia, Mr. Garlitsky received his first music lessons from his father, the author of the standard textbook for young violinists, “Step by Step”. He studied with Professor Yankelevich at the Moscow Conservatory, and afterward worked as the Concertmaster for the Moscow Virtuosi and the London Symphony Orchestra, the Covent Garden Opera, the Vienna ORF Orchestra, the Hamburg Philharmonic, and many more. Today, Mr. Garlitsky devotes a large amount of his time to education. He holds a chair at two outstanding music Institutes, the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris and the Folkwang Universität der Künste, Essen (Germany). In addition, Mr. Garlitsky offers master classes on a yearly basis at the most renowned music institutions including the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Hanns Eisler Musikhochschule in Berlin, and Kronberg Academy.

“He is also very successful as a teacher and his instruction would be an enrichment for any musical institution, be it orchestra or music academy. His knowledge, his energy, his honesty, and his ability to connect with people and create harmony are in my opinion the quintessence of why he can serve as a role model and ‘leading light’ for the young generation.” (Kurt Masur).