For Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman, the most wonderful part of being a musician is being able to translate our emotions, thoughts and experiences into sound. Every meeting, every collaboration, every book he reads in one way or another will find its way into the way he performs.

“Every experience we have in life, actually, very often translates itself — without us noticing — into who we are, and that in itself translates into the way we perform, for those of us who perform on stage,” the Peabody Conservatory Distinguished Artist in Residence said.

He said it is what conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein used to call a compulsive urge to share, a feeling of unity with the composer, with the audience. It is something one never forgets and wants to experience over and over again.

“And then also there is another factor that I know for myself: I can express in music much more than I could ever dream of expressing with words in any language,” Vadim said.

Performing New Music

One of Vadim’s latest projects is the commissioning and premiering the latest piece for violin and orchestra by Lera Auerbach, “Infant Minstrel and His Peculiar Menagerie”. It was commissioned by the London Proms, BBC Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Bergen Philharmonic and L’Orchestra de la Suisse Romande in Geneva. Vadim will play the US premiere of “Infant Minstrel” with the Louisiana Philharmonic in March 2019, and Mexican premiere with Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional in June 2019, both coordinated by Music Director Carlos Miguel Prieto.

Vadim feels that commissioning and performing new music is a duty of a performing artist. He has also given premieres of other works by Auerbach, as well as Michael Daugherty, Sofia Gubaidulina, Giya Kancheli, Elena Firsova and Pēteris Vasks.

“We need to let the voices of the composers of our time be heard. Otherwise we will never advance; otherwise we will never find a new Mendelssohn, a new Beethoven or a new Tchaikovsky – we must remember that at the time they were the “modern composers”, whose music was performed by their contemporaries,” he said. “I feel we should do the same. Of course, not every piece will stay in the repertoire, but nevertheless, we must open our ears and hearts and experience new music.”

New Album

Vadim also is putting the finishing touches on an album of music by Latvian composer Peteris Vasks. His music is very dear to Vadim, a truly incredible voice in the modern music world. This recording will include the wonderful “Distant Light” Violin Concerto with Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hannu Lintu; and the Piano Quartet with close collaborators pianist Angela Yoffe, violist Ilze Klava and cellist Reinis Birznieks. The last piece of this album is with violinist Sandis Šteinbergs — an exciting, world-premiere recording of “Summer Dances” for two violins.

Off Stage

Off stage, Vadim likes to read, one part to escape from reality but the other part to find inspiration and translate that to his playing and interpretations.

Also, a simple walk in the woods or seeing an extraordinary beautiful place will be of great inspiration to Vadim. He recalls a recent trip to Montana to the Tippet Rise Art Center, which is located in the most incredible scenery.

“These images will forever be with me and I am sure one way or another will find their way onto the stage,” he added.

Vadim supports any educational initiatives and has performed fundraising concerts for a number of charities. He has even established a charity of his own, the Arkady Fomin Scholarship Fund, raising money to support talented young musicians.

He also gives a lot of support to an organization in Israel called “Save the Child’s Heart”, which brings children with life-threatening heart defects, deprived of medical care from all over the world to Israel, where they are being operated on and their lives are saved.

“It really is a very special place and even my daughter now is involved with fundraising efforts in her school – I am quite proud of it!” he added.

To learn more about Vadim Gluzman and see his schedule, visit his website.