Ivry Gitlis

Ivry Gitlis ( _he. עברי גיטליס) (born August 22, 1922) is an Israeli violinist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

Born in Haifa, Mandate Palestine to Russian parents, Gitlis studied violin at the Conservatoire de Paris. His teachers include Carl Flesch, George Enescu, and Jacques Thibaud. He has since performed with the world's best orchestras, and many of his recordings are considered classics.

In 1968 he participated in John Lennon's Dirty Mac project on The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus program.

In 1971 Bruno Maderna wrote "Piece for Ivry" for him.

In 1990 Gitlis was designated UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. [ [http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=8301&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html Ivry Gitlis - UNESCO Celebrity Advocates | UNESCO.org ] ] His stated aim is the "support of education and culture of peace and tolerance".

Ivry Gitlis is a commentator (along with Itzhak Perlman) all the way through the DVD "The Art of Violin" (2000) which showcases performances and gives biographical details of many of the great violinists of the 20th Century.

Since the end of the sixties, Gitlis has resided in Paris, France.

*Ivry currently owns the "Swan Song" Stradivarius of 1737.

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