Death of a legendary Russian maestro, 92
RIPFriends have reported on his Facebook page the death today of Lev Markiz, a prominent Russian violinist and conductor who emigrated to the Netherlands in 1981.
A former concertmaster of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, he founded New Sinfonietta Amsterdam and directed it for 15 years, making numerous recordings. He was a much loved and sought after teacher.
He was delighted last month when his grandson Benjamin Marquise Gilmore was appointed leader of the London Symphony Orchestra.
photo: Facebook, March 1, 2023
First tributes:
Katya Apekisheva: Lev Markiz… forever young … An amazing musician and human being… I will never forget you…
Boris Brovtsyn: Lev Markiz I’ll miss you terribly. Farewell, maestro.
Daniel Raiskin:It is very hard to write these words and even harder to believe re-reading them… Sad news came today that Lev Markiz has passed away. An amazing person left us, a remarkable musician, conductor, writer, storyteller, teacher, educator, friend, phenomenal listener, joker…
Vittoria Baiza: The world lost an amazing man and musician, violinist and conductor – Lev Markiz.
(November 1, 1930 – April 4th, 2023)
Last three months I promised to call him and didn’t find time to do so. This is another life lesson for me – don’t put off talking with a person older than you if he is waiting for your call.
R.I.P., Maestro!
Lika Sachaleli:I don’t know what to say, I remembered the happiest student years
Thank you for everything.. 😢😢🙏 R.I.P. Lev Markiz
Dima Gagulidze: My oldest friend is gone…. Breaks my heart to pieces .. He has done so many wonderful things for my country.. What a supporter he was! 22 years of friendship, lots of concerts and very warm, friendly relations were connected…
Very sad news! I’ve known Lev Markiz more than 50 years and played many concerts and recordings in which he was conducting different chamber orchestras. He was very talented musician and a good friend. His musicianship had a strong impact on my musical development. Thank you dear Lyova, I’ll never forget you. RIP
I had never heard of Markiz until many years ago when I bought his astonishing, powerful and deeply moving Bis recording of Ernest Bloch’s vastly under-rated Symphony in C sharp. I knew then that whoever was the conductor was the real deal, someone who believed in the music and convince the orchestra to play their hearts out. Still the best account ever of that work. I regret that I never had the chance to hear him in a live concert. RIP.
It is very hard to write these words and even harder to believe re-reading them… Sad news came today that Lev Markiz has passed away. An amazing person left us, a remarkable musician, conductor, writer, storyteller, teacher, educator, friend, phenomenal listener, joker…
I cannot enumerate everything I learned from this outstanding master of “strings magic”, but every year I am more and more aware of the immense wealth that Lev shared with us so generously. We are all so very lucky that we “have lived on Earth in the same epoch” with Lev Markiz and I am sure he will always live with us further! Farewell, dear friend, may your memory be blessed…