©Photo: Chris Lee

Gil Shaham

Violin

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“Gil Shaham’s performance of the Bach Partita No. 2 may have brought his audience to its feet roaring with pleasure, but it was the subtlety of the rest of the program that spoke most eloquently.”
(Washington Post)

Gil Shaham is one of the foremost violinists of our time: his flawless technique combined with his inimitable warmth and generosity of spirit has solidified his renown as an American master. He is sought after throughout the world for concerto appearances with leading orchestras and conductors, and regularly gives recitals and appears with ensembles on the world’s great concert stages and at the most prestigious festivals.

Highlights of recent years include a recording and performances of J.S.Bach’s complete sonatas and partitas for solo violin and recitals with his long time duo partner pianist, Akira Eguchi. He regularly appears with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco Symphonie Orchestras, the Israel Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, and in multi-year residencies with the Orchestras of Montreal, Stuttgart and Singapore.

Mr. Shaham has more than two dozen concerto and solo CDs to his name, earning multiple Grammys, a Grand Prix du Disque, Diapason d’Or, and Gramophone Editor’s Choice. His most recent recording in the series 1930s Violin Concertos Vol. 2 was nominated for a Grammy Award. His latest recording of Beethoven and Brahms Concertos with The Knights was released in 2021.

Mr. Shaham was awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant in 1990, and in 2008, received the coveted Avery Fisher Prize. In 2012, he was named ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ by Musical America. He plays the 1699 “Countess Polignac” Stradivarius, and lives in New York City with his wife, violinist Adele Anthony, and their three children.

HarrisonParrott represents Gil Shaham in the UK

Gallery

“Gil Shaham drew on a range of colour, from lustrous to sweet-toned to fashion a first movement of aristocratic poise, balanced by an abundance of orchestral sensitivity”

(Classical Source, April 18)

“The Finale kicked off like a fire-cracker and Shaham demonstrated effortless impeccability – double-stops, pizzicati, trills, whatever Tchaikovsky throws at the soloist was despatched with nimbleness and mellifluousness. No wonder, with so many obvious aficionados present, that this performance was greeted with a standing ovation.”

(Seen and Heard International, June 2016)

“The [Britten] Concerto’s disturbingly ambiguous last minutes are played with great intensity both by Shaham and a notably refined Boston Symphony under Juanjo Mena. This should be considered one of the finest versions currently available.”

(Rob Cowan, Gramophone, April 2014)

“His virtuosity is breathtaking and he has the fiery temperament that gives Sarasate’s music an authentic Spanish zing.”

(The Telegraph, January 2010)

“Shaham’s playing is impeccable – every attack is perfectly clean, the articulation crystal clear.”

(The Guardian, January 2010)

“The hallmark of this performance became that breathtaking depth of tone which Shaham seems alone in being able to generate. Rarely have I heard the fugue in this Sonata sound so solemn as it did here.”

(Musicweb-international, November 2009)