Cleveland hires a Tchaikovsky winner
mainCleveland Institute of Music has recruited violinists Ilya and Olga Kaler to the CIM String Faculty from the start of the 2018-19 academic year.
Ilya won the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow, the Sibelius in Helsinki and the Paganini in Genoa. Olga is an outstanding soloist and teacher.
Both are immensely gifted and will be wonderful additions in Cleveland.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ilya Kaler last fall after a concert at the University of Virginia. In his Tempest Trio, he combines with two younger Israeli-American musicians, cellist Amit Peled and pianist Alon Goldstein. In particular the pairing of violinist and cellist is fascinating. Amit Peled is the cellist who has recently been traveling and recording with Pablo Casals’ Goffriller cello, but he also performs with another, physically larger cello that takes advantage of Peled’s ability to produce a very large and rich sound. Above it, Kaler’s vibrant and golden sound with endlessly perfect intonation – I don’t think Ilya Kaler is even capable of playing an out-of-tune note – seems to just float. The Tempest Trio’s concerts and recordings are really worth searching out, and that’s just one among Ilya Kaler’s great many accomplishments. PS the information about the independent organization that presents the concert series in question at the University of Virginia can be found by searching on “Tuesday Evening Concert Series in Charlottesville.”
Olga was born in Moldova. She’s daughter of a prominent Moldovian composer Boris Dubossarsky, that was my schoolmate from age 6. Proud on achievements of my countrymen.
Ilya Kaler – most underrated violinist! World class talent, great musician, and a nice fellow. Glad to see this appointment.