Isaac Stern Biography (1920-2001)

Born July 21, 1920, in Kreminiecz, Russia; immigrated to the United States, 1921; son of Solomon and Clara Stern; married Nora Kaye (a ballerina), November 10, 1948 (divorced); married Vera Lindenblit, August 17, 1951 (marriage ended); married Linda Reynolds, November 3, 1996; children: (second marriage) Shira, Michael, David. Career: Violinist, actor, and music advisor. Concert violinist, 1934--; first American to perform in the U.S.S.R. after WorldWar II, 1956; Istomin-Rose-Stern Trio, member, 1962-83; invited to perform inChina, 1979; performed with major orchestras and participated in numerous festivals throughout the world. Citizens' Committee to Save Carnegie Hall,organizer, 1960; Carnegie Hall Corp., president, 1960--; American-Israel Cultural Foundation, chairperson of board of directors, beginning in 1964; Jerusalem Music Center, founder, 1973, and chairperson; National Endowment for theArts, founding member. Awards, Honors: Grammy Awards, best classical performance, instrumental soloist with orchestra, 1961, for Bartok: Concerto No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra, 1962, for Stravinsky: Concerto in D-Major for Violin and Orchestra: A Symphony in Three Movements, and 1964,for Prokofiev: Concerto No. 1 in D-Major for Violin and Orchestra; Grammy Award nomination, best classical performance, instrumental soloist with orchestra, c. 1965, for Barber: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra; Grammy Award nominations, best chamber music performance, c. 1965, for Schubert: Trio No. 1 in B-Flat for Piano, and c. 1966, for Beethoven: Trio for Piano, Violin, and Cello No. 6 in B-Flat Major; Grammy Award nomination, best classical performance, instrumental soloist, c. 1966, for Dvorak: Concerto in A-Minor for Violin and Orchestra; Romance; Grammy Award nominations, best chamber music performance, 1967, for Brahms: The Trios for Piano, Violin, and Cello, and c. 1968, for Beethoven: Trio No. 3 in C-Minor and Mendelssohn: Trio No. 1 in D-Minor; Grammy Award, best chamber music performance, 1970, for Beethoven: The Complete Piano Trios; GrammyAward nominations, best chamber music performance and best instrumental chamber music performance, both 1971, for Mozart Flute Quartets; honorary degrees from Dalhousie University and University of Hartford, both 1971; namedcommandeur, French Ordre de la Couronne, 1974; honorary degrees fromBucknell University, 1974, and Yale University, 1975; Albert Schweitzer Award, 1975; Creative Arts Award, notable achievement, Brandeis University, 1976;Grammy Award, best classical album, 1977, for The Concert of the Century; Grammy Award nomination, best chamber music performance, 1977, for Trio for Piano in A-Minor; honorary degree from Columbia University, 1977; Grammy Award nominations, best classical album and best classical performance,instrumental soloist with orchestra, both 1978, for Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; named commander, French Legion of Honor, 1979, 1990; honorary degree from Johns Hopkins University, 1979; Emmy Award nomination, best classicalprogram in the performing arts, for a special or series, 1981, for Great Performances; Academy Award, best full-length documentary, and special mention, Cannes International Film Festival, both 1981, for From Mao to Mozart--Isaac Stern in China; Grammy Award, best classical performance, instrumental soloist with orchestra, 1981, for The Isaac Stern 60th AnniversaryCelebration; Leonie Sonnings Music Award, Leonie Sonning Music Foundation, 1982; shared Joseph Prize for Human Rights, Anti-Defamation League, B'nai B'rith, 1983; honorary degrees from University of Maryland at CollegePark and Tel Aviv University, both 1983; named Artist Laureate, CBS Masterworks Records, 1984; Kennedy Center Honors Award, John F. Kennedy Center for thePerforming Arts, 1984; Commander's Cross, Danish Order of the Danneborg,1985; Emmy Award nomination, best classical program in the performing arts,for a special or series, 1986, for Great Performances; named Musicianof the Year, Musical America International Dictionary of the Performing Arts, 1986; named Fellow of Jerusalem, 1986; shared Wolf Prize, Wolf Foundation, 1987; Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 1987; shared Emmy Award, bestperformer in classical music programming, 1987, for Carnegie Hall: The Grand Reopening; honorary degree from New York University, 1989; National Medal of Honor, 1991; Grammy Award, best vocal or instrumental chamber music performance, 1991, for Brahms: Piano Quartets; Presidential Medal of Honor, 1992; honorary degrees from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Harvard University, both 1992; Grammy Award nomination, best classical performance, instrumental soloist with orchestra, for Isaac Stern and Jean-Pierre Rampal Play Vivaldi and Telemann; Gold Baton Award, American SymphonyOrchestra League. Addresses: Office: Carnegie Hall Corp., 881 7th Ave., New York, NY 10019-3210.

Gender
Male
Occupation
Violinist, actor, music advisor
Birth Details
July 21, 1920
Kreminiecz, Russia
Death Details
September 22, 2001
Manhattan, New York

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Television Appearances
  • Episodic
  • "Zubin Mehta, Itzhak Perlman, and Pinchas Zukerman Celebrate Isaac Stern's 60th Birthday," Live from Lincoln Center(also known as GreatPerformances), PBS, 1980
  • "The New York City Philharmonic Celebration with Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, and Montserrat Cavalle," Live from Lincoln Center(also known as Great Performances), PBS, 1986
  • "Bernstein at 70," Great Performances, PBS, 1989
  • The Class of the 20th Century, A&E, 1992
  • "Isaac Stern ... A Life," A & E Stage, A&E, 1993
  • "Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall," Great Performances, PBS, 1993
  • "Passing the Baton," Great Performances, PBS, 1993
  • "The Maestros of Philadelphia," Great Performances, PBS, 1993
  • "Leonard Bernstein's 75th," A & E Stage, A&E, 1993
  • "A Salute to Slava," The Kennedy Center Presents, PBS, 1994
  • "Carnegie Hall Salutes the Jazz Masters," Great Performances, PBS,1994
  • Host, "Carnegie Hall Opening Night 1994," Great Performances, PBS,1994
  • "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart," Biography, A&E, 1995
  • "Legendary Maestros: The Art of Conducting," Great Performances, PBS, 1995
  • Host, "Carnegie Hall Opening Night 1995," Great Performances, PBS,1995
  • Host, "Carnegie Hall Opening Night 1997," Great Performances, PBS,1997
  • Specials
  • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1984
  • Carnegie Hall: The Grand Reopening, CBS, 1987
  • The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Show,1987
  • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1988
  • JFK--A Time Remembered(also known as JFK--Where Were You in '63?), PBS, 1988
  • Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration(also known as Irving Berlin: 100th Birthday Anniversary), CBS, 1988
  • Yo-Yo Ma: A Month at Tanglewood, A&E, 1990
  • Frozen Music: The Making of a Concert Hall, PBS, 1990
  • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1991
  • Marian Anderson, PBS, 1991
  • Carnegie Hall: Live at 100! The Gala Celebration, PBS, 1991
  • Carnegie Hall at 100: A Place of Dreams, PBS, 1991
  • Memory and Imagination: New Pathways to the Library of Congress, PBS, 1992
  • Isaac Stern Talking with David Frost, PBS, 1992
  • Jack Benny: Now Cut That Out!, A&E, 1996
  • The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra 60th Anniversary Gala, PBS, 1997
  • Beethoven: The Sound and the Fury, A&E, 1998
  • Leonard Bernstein: Reaching for the Note, PBS, 1998
  • Skitch Henderson at 80, PBS, 1998
  • Television Violinist
  • Episodic
  • "Isaac Stern ... A Life," A & E Stage, A&E, 1993
  • "A Salute to Slava," The Kennedy Center Presents, PBS, 1994
  • "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart," Biography, A&E, 1995
  • Specials
  • The New York Philharmonic Celebration with Zubin Mehta,1986
  • Carnegie Hall: The Grand Reopening, CBS, 1987
  • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1988
  • The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra 60th Anniversary Gala, PBS, 1997
  • Film Appearances
  • Eugene Ysaye, Tonight We Sing, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1953
  • Journey to Jerusalem(documentary), Audio Brandon, 1968
  • From Mao to Mozart--Isaac Stern in China, Lorimar, 1980
  • Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Paramount Home Video, 1988
  • Small Wonders,1995
  • Himself, Fifty Violins(also known as 50 Violins), 1999
  • Film Work
  • Violinist and music advisor, Humoresque, Warner Bros., 1946
  • Violinist, Fiddler on the Roof, United Artists, 1971
  • RECORDINGS
  • Albums
  • Humoresque(original soundtrack), 1946
  • Tonight We Sing(original soundtrack), 1953
  • Tchaikovsky: Concerto in D-Major for Violin and Orchestra, Columbia, 1959
  • Mendelssohn: Concerto in E-Minor for Violin and Orchestra; Concerto inD-Major for Violin and Orchestra, Columbia, 1959
  • Debussy: Sonata in G-Minor for Violin and Piano, Columbia, 1960
  • Beethoven: The Complete Piano Trios, CBS Masterworks, 1960
  • Franck: Sonata in A-Major for Violin and Piano, Columbia, 1960
  • Brahms: Trios for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Columbia, 1961
  • Bartok: Concerto No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra, Columbia, 1961
  • Bartok: Concerto for Violin, CBS Masterworks, 1962
  • Bartok: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 2, Rhapsody No. 1, Rhapsody No. 2, CBS Masterworks, 1962
  • Bartok: Two Rhapsodies for Violin and Orchestra; Berg: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, CBS Masterworks, 1962
  • Stravinsky: Concerto in D-Major for Violin and Orchestra: A Symphony in Three Movements, Columbia, 1962
  • Mozart: Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Major for Violin and Orchestra; Concerto No. 5 in A-Major for Violin and Orchestra, Columbia, 1964
  • Prokofiev: Concerto No. 1 in D-Major for Violin and Orchestra; Concerto No. 2 in G-Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Columbia, 1964
  • Barber: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Columbia, 1965
  • Bloch: Baal Shem, Three Pictures of Chassidic Life, Columbia, 1965
  • Hindemith: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Columbia, 1965
  • Schubert: Trio No. 1 in B-Flat for Piano, Columbia, c. 1965
  • Beethoven: Trio for Piano, Violin, and Cello No. 6 in B-Flat Major, Columbia, 1966
  • Dvorak: Concerto in A-Minor for Violin and Orchestra; Romance, Columbia, 1966
  • Bach: Violin Concertos, CBS Masterworks, 1967
  • Brahms: The Trios for Piano, Violin, and Cello, CBS Masterworks, 1967
  • Bruch: Concerto No. 1 in G-Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Columbia, 1967
  • Casals: A Living Portrait in His Own Words, CBS Masterworks, 1967
  • The Classic Melodies of Japan, Columbia, 1967
  • Lalo: Symphonie espagnole, Columbia, 1967
  • Mozart: Concerto No. 3 in G-Major for Violin and Orchestra; Sinfonia Concertante in E-Flat Major for Violin, Viola, and Orchestra, CBS Masterworks, 1968
  • Beethoven: Trio No. 3 in C-Minor and Mendelssohn: Trio No. 1 in D- Minor, Columbia, c. 1968
  • Journey to Jerusalem(original soundtrack), 1968
  • Four Favorite Trios, CBS Masterworks, 1969
  • Schubert: Trio in E-Flat Major for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Columbia, 1970
  • Beethoven: The Complete Piano Trios, Columbia, 1970
  • Sibelius: Concerto in D-Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Columbia,1970
  • Fiddler on the Roof, Liberty, 1971
  • Mozart Flute Quartets, CBS Masterworks, 1971
  • Brahms Violin Concerto, Columbia, 1972
  • Beethoven Violin Concerto, Columbia, 1972
  • Greatest Hits: The Violin, Columbia, 1972
  • Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante in E-Flat, Columbia, 1972
  • Favorite Melodies for the Quiet Hours: Romance, Columbia, 1972
  • Stamitz: Sinfonia Concertante in D-Major, Columbia, 1972
  • Beethoven: Concerto in D-Major for Violin and Orchestra, Columbia,1973
  • Isaac Stern Plays Brahms, Columbia, 1973
  • Copland Performs and Conducts Copland, Columbia, 1974
  • Mozart: Concertone in C-Major for Two Violins and Orchestra, Columbia, 1974
  • Pleyel: Sinfonie Concertante in B-Flat Major, Columbia, 1974
  • Mozart: Divertimento in E-Flat Major for String Trio, Columbia, 1975
  • Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D-Major, Columbia, 1976
  • The Concert of the Century, Columbia, 1976
  • Isaac Stern Plays Saint-Saens, Chausson, Faure, Columbia, 1976
  • Brahms: Double Concerto in A-Minor for Violin and Cello, Odyssey,1977
  • Trio for Piano in A-Minor, Columbia, 1977
  • Bartok: Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano, Odyssey, 1978
  • Bernstein: Serenade for Violin Solo, Strings, and Percussion, Odyssey, 1978
  • Mozart: Concerto No. 2 in D-Major for Violin and Orchestra; Concerto No. 4 in D-Major for Violin and Orchestra, Columbia, 1978
  • Mozart: Concerto No. 4 for Violin and Orchestra in D-Major; Concerto No. 5 for Violin and Orchestra in A-Major, CBS Masterworks, 1978
  • Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Columbia, 1978
  • Vivaldi: Concerto in D-Minor; Concerto in C-Minor, Columbia, 1978
  • Beethoven: Sonata No. 7 in C-Minor for Violin and Piano, Odyssey,1979
  • Brahms: Concerto in D-Major for Violin and Orchestra, Columbia, 1979
  • Hindemith: Sonata for Violin and Piano, Odyssey, 1979
  • Penderecki: Violin Concerto, Columbia, 1979
  • Prokofiev: Sonata in F-Minor for Violin and Piano; Sonata in D-Major for Violin and Piano, Odyssey, 1979
  • Rochberg: Violin Concerto, Columbia, 1979
  • Mozart: Concerto in G; Concerto in D; Andante in C, RCA Red Seal,1979
  • Sibelius: Concerto in D-Minor for Violin and Orchestra; Four HistoricScenes, Odyssey, 1979
  • Mozart: Rondo in G-Major; Sonata No. 26 in B-Flat Major for Violin andPiano, Odyssey, 1979
  • Tchaikovsky: Concerto in D-Major for Violin and Orchestra; Meditation, Columbia, 1979
  • Viotti: Concerto No. 22 in A-Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Odyssey, 1979
  • Wieniawski: Concerto No. 2 in D-Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Odyssey, 1979
  • Dame Myra Hess in Recital, Bruno Walter Society, 1980
  • Mendelssohn: Concerto in E-Minor for Violin and Orchestra; Beethoven:Two Romances, CBS Masterworks, 1981
  • Mendelssohn: Trio No. 1 in D-Minor; Trio No. 2 in C-Minor, CBS Masterworks, 1981
  • The Isaac Stern 60th Anniversary Celebration, CBS Masterworks, 1981
  • Haydn: London Trios, CBS Masterworks, 1982
  • Bach: Concerto in D-Minor for Two Violins and Orchestra; Bach: Concerto in C-Minor for Oboe, Violin, and Orchestra; Vivaldi: Concerto in A-Minor for Two Violins, and Orchestra, CBS Masterworks, 1982
  • Jean-Pierre Rampal, Flute, Isaac Stern, Violin, Mstislav Rostropovich,Cello, Play Haydn, CBS Masterworks, 1982
  • Bach: Trio Sonatas, CBS Masterworks, 1983
  • Prokofiev: Concerto No. 1 in D-Major; Concerto No. 2 in G-Minor, CBS Masterworks, 1983
  • Sonatas of J. S. Bach and Sons, CBS Masterworks, 1983
  • Beethoven: Sonata No. 9 in A-Major for Violin and Piano; Sonata No. 5in F-Major for Violin and Piano, CBS Masterworks, 1984
  • Beethoven: The Complete Sonatas for Piano and Violin, four volumes, CBS Masterworks, 1985
  • The Great Violin Concertos, CBS Masterworks, 1986
  • Berg: Kammerkonzert; Concerto for Violin and Orchestra; To the Memoryof an Angel, CBS Masterworks, 1986
  • Beethoven: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, D-Major; Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, G-Minor, CBS Masterworks, 1987
  • Henri Dutilleux: L'arbre des songes, Concerto pour violon et orchestra; Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, CBS Masterworks, 1987
  • Brahms: Double Concerto; Piano Quartet, No. 3, CBS Masterworks, 1988
  • Brahms: Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra in A-Minor; Piano Quartet No. 3 in C-Minor, CBS Masterworks, 1988
  • Shostakovich: Trio No. 2 for Violin, Cello, and Piano; Sonata for Cello and Piano, CBS Masterworks, 1988
  • Mozart: Three Trios for Flute, Violin, and Cello; Telemann: Quartet for Flute, Violin, Cello, and Lute; Bach: Trio for Flute, Violin, and Cello: Reicha: Eighteen Variations and a Fantasy, Sony Classical, 1990
  • The Trio Recordings, Sony Classical, 1990
  • Brahms: Piano Quartets,1991
  • Also recorded Isaac Stern and Jean-Pierre Rampal Play Vivaldi and Telemann, Columbia.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books:
    • Campbell, Margaret, The Great Violinists, November 17, 1980, Doubleday (New York City), 1980.
    • Schwarz, Boris, Great Masters of the Violin: From Corelli and Vivaldito Stern, Zukerman, and Perlman, Simon & Schuster (New York City), 1983.
    Periodicals:
    • Newsweek, p. 93.
    • Strad, August 17, 1977, p. 291; November, 1985.
    • Time, July 7, 1980, p. 64.
    • U.S. News & World Report, August 13, 1990, p. 67.*