Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Vocal

 

Jacques Gordon was a renowned classical music artist who made significant contributions to the world of music. He was born on August 1, 1909, in St. Louis, Missouri, to a family of musicians. His father, Max Gordon, was a violinist, and his mother, Bertha Gordon, was a pianist. Jacques showed an early interest in music and began playing the violin at the age of four. Jacques received his early music education from his parents and later studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He also studied with renowned violinists such as Leopold Auer and Efrem Zimbalist. Jacques was a prodigious talent and made his debut as a soloist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra at the age of 12. In 1928, Jacques moved to Europe to further his studies. He studied with Carl Flesch in Berlin and later with Jacques Thibaud in Paris. During this time, he also performed extensively throughout Europe, earning critical acclaim for his virtuosity and musicality. In 1933, Jacques returned to the United States and became the concertmaster of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. He held this position for three years before joining the NBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Arturo Toscanini. Jacques played with the NBC Symphony Orchestra for ten years and was a featured soloist on many of their recordings. Jacques was also a dedicated chamber musician and founded the Gordon String Quartet in 1946. The quartet was highly regarded and performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe. Jacques also collaborated with many other musicians, including pianist Artur Rubinstein and cellist Gregor Piatigorsky. Throughout his career, Jacques received numerous awards and honors. In 1941, he was awarded the Naumburg Award for his outstanding contributions to chamber music. He was also a recipient of the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, one of France's highest honors. One of Jacques' most memorable performances was his solo performance of the Brahms Violin Concerto with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein in 1962. The performance was widely praised, and Jacques was hailed as one of the greatest violinists of his time. Jacques retired from performing in 1975 but continued to teach and mentor young musicians. He taught at the Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music and was a beloved figure in the music community. Jacques Gordon passed away on December 31, 1996, at the age of 87. He left behind a legacy of exceptional musicianship and dedication to the art of music. His contributions to the world of classical music will continue to inspire and influence generations of musicians to come.

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