Hollywood's great concertmaster has left the stage
mainIsrael Baker, who led the studio orchestras for all the great soundtrack composers, has died aged 92.
Obituary here on violinist.com
family photo: Israel Baker, Yaltah Menuhin
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He is the solo violinist in the excellent stereo recording of Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat conducted by the composer himself, in about 1961.
I’m sorry to hear about Israel Baker’s death – he was one of the musicians that anyone growing up in the sixties and who also cared about the music of Stravinsky and Schoenberg knew very well but had later lost track of. His recording of the Schoenberg Phantasy (which one can hear on the link) is very distinguished and one of my favorite. He’s one of the few who can play it without seeming to struggle.
One should also mention his recording of the Schoenberg Violin Concerto which was, if not the first, one of the very first recordings of that piece in stereo. Considering the various world he worked in, he must have been a pleasure to perform with.
Dan P.
I am am so appreciative and touched by the comments I’m reading about my father Israel, by his fans, friends and peers.