The Russian-born, internationally renowned violin virtuoso, Daniel Shindarov, 95, performed classical favorites at a Pacific Palisades home on December 8.
“He doesn’t mind playing in a small place, when he knows people love hearing him,” said Shindarov’s wife, Sofia.
He was accompanied on the piano by Alla Konviser.
Shindarov began his musical training in the USSR with professor Pyotr Stolarsky, who also taught Misha Elman, Nathan Milshtein and David Oistraich. He continued his musical training with Oistrach and received his master’s degree in violin from the Moscow Conservatory.
Before leaving Russia in 1975 to move to the United States, Shindarov was concertmaster of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre Orchestra in Moscow.
Since his arrival here, he has been concertmaster of the San Francisco Opera orchestra and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and has performed with the Master Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony and many other ensembles. In addition, he has contributed his talent to numerous film scores.
His playing has been described by critics as “Spontaneous displays of astonishing virtuosity, bravura, stylish musicality and incomparable playing!” and “A master of all sorts of technical violinistic challenges, including double-stops, flying staccato passages, and difficult left hand pizzicati while simultaneously bowing with the right.”
Annually, local music teacher Natasha Gevorkyan has hosted a concert/birthday party for Shindarov in her home.
Gevorkyan was born and raised in Russia and received her music education at the College of Music in Sukhumi by the Black Sea. She moved to the U.S. in 1986 and met Shindarov.
She teaches adults and children of all levels and abilities (including a mommy-and-me class), but specializes in introducing children, some as young as 12 months, to a wide variety of musical instruments.
Gevorkyan has three adult children, Luiza, Robert and Michael. Visit: natashasmusicstudio.com