Jaime Laredo, violinist and conductor

"He has everything a virtuoso violinist needs. But he has more than that. He is a violinist of profound musicianship."

-- The New Yorker

Through concerts in thirty plus countries on five continents, and in over forty recordings, Jaime Laredo has won the hearts of millions with performances of style and passion. From coast to coast and in recitals from Los Angeles to New York, his artistry has earned him the reputation not only as one of the world's premiere violin virtuosi, but also as a performer of depth and versatility.

Sample Programs:

All-Brahms: Three Sonatas for Violin and Piano
All-Schubert: Three Sonatinas and the C Major Fantasy
20th Century Gems:
- Stravinsky: Suite Italienne
- Busoni: Sonata #2
- Danielpour: Nocturne, “As Night Falls on Barjeantane”
- Ravel: Sonata or
- Bartók: Sonata #1

A Celebration of the Violin (selections from the following; others possible)
- Stravinsky: Suite Italienne
- Mozart: Sonata in e minor
- Brahms: Sonata in d minor
- Ravel: Sonata
- Bartók: Sonata #1
- Kreisler: Short Pieces or De Falla/Villa Lobos/Granados

Acclaim:

"Lyrical playing of unsurpassable elegance." London Times
“stunning.” St. Paul Pioneer Press
“There wasn't an empty seat to be found anywhere....Laredo's playing was impeccable, as it always is, and it was a pleasure to hear him shape his phrases so imaginatively.” Ottawa Citizen
“Mr. Laredo effortlessly navigated the whispering, lyrical lines...the program was intelligently assembled and compellingly played.” The New York Times

SOME NOTES ON THE SELECTIONS:

Stravinsky - Vintage neo-classicism based on Pergolesi’s violin sonatas of the early 18th century.

JL: “I love this piece with its marvelous baroque melodies set within Stravinsky’s captivating 20th century harmonies. It was also the opening piece when I played the first violin recital at Alice Tully Hall in 1969.”

Danielpour – Short work commissioned by the 2002 Indianapolis Violin Competition, for which Jaime Laredo serves as President of the Jury. Forthcoming release on E1(KOCH).

JL: “Just beautiful, this piece evokes twilight in the south of France”

Busoni

JL: “a monumental piece - one of the greatest pieces for violin and piano written in the 20th Century. When I was a student at Curtis in 1955, I heard Szigeti perform it and I was so moved by the piece, it has been a favorite ever since.”

Copland - This work was composed during 1942 and 1943, partly in New York and partly in Hollywood.

JL: I first heard it played by Isaac Stern and loved its simple, tuneful purity with its shades of “Hoedown” and “Red Pony.”

Ravel - Gershwin went to Paris to study with Ravel who told him, “There is nothing I can teach you.” Ravel was so taken with Gershwin’s unique genius that he tried to capture elements of his sound in the second movement of the Violin Sonata which he named “Blues.” The finale is a perpetual motion bravura romp. Jaime Laredo first heard this work as played by Szigeti on the same series in Philadelphia.

Mozart

JL: “What can I say, except that I have a particular love for this work.”

Brahms

JL: “This was the first major sonata I ever learned and I played it on my Carnegie Hall debut recital. It is such a great work that it’s still daunting even after all these years.”

Kreisler

JL: “I love playing these pieces for the pure joy they bring. I can’t imagine any audience member not being moved by these works.”

De Falla/Villa Lobos/Granados

JL: “It’s not just my Spanish heritage that makes me say this, but these works make people want music in their lives.”

Booking Inquiries

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