Hagai ShahamHagai Shaham

Hailed for his “thrilling virtuosity”(The Strad) and “a tone as rich as Jascha Heifetz” (The Independent), Hagai Shaham is one of the most exciting violinists to have emerged from Israel. He began to study the violin at the age of six and was a student of the renowned Ilona Feher.

An annual recipient of America-Israel Cultural Foundation Awards since 1976, Shaham has won numerous first prizes in competitions.

Hagai Shaham has performed as a soloist with major orchestras including the Israel Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra and English Chamber Orchestra to name but a few. In 1985 he was invited to join Isaac Stern and Pinchas Zukerman in a gala concert celebrating Maestro Stern’s 65th birthday in Carnegie Hall. Three years later he was back in Carnegie Hall as a soloist with the Israel Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta to play Brahms' Double Concerto. Since then he has performed worldwide. In 2006 Hagai Shaham was again invited by Zubin Mehta to play Brahms' Double Concerto, together with cellist Mischa Maisky, to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

Recordings include works for violin and piano by Joseph Achron (Biddulph) and Jenö Hubay (a double cd which won BBC Magazine top recommendation) and all four Hubay concertos for Hyperion. Shaham’s latest cd releases include the violin sonatas by Edvard Grieg (May 2006), music by Ernest Bloch and Paul Ben-Haïm (March 2007) and Hungarian Dances by Brahms (2008). The release of  the two violin sonatas and short pieces by Leo Weiner are expected in June 2009, also for Hyperion.

Hagai Shaham is a much sought after masterclass teacher in Europe as well as in the USA. Shaham is faculty member of the famous Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California.

“His playing electrified the audience…” Washington Post

“A heart stopping experience…Shaham demonstrated his Heifetzian ability…generated great excitement…A charismatic soloist…” Classical Music Review

In 1990 Shaham and his duo partner Arnon Erez won first prize in the Munich International Competition (ARD), the first time in nearly twenty years this coveted prize had been awarded to a violin-piano duo!
Arnon Erez is one of Israel's leading pianists, primarily known for his unique chamber music abilities. He collaborates with a wide number of musicians and performs with top artists worldwide. Born in Israel in 1965, Arnon Erez studied piano with Mrs. Hana Shalgi, Professor Michael Boguslavski and Professor Arie Vardi. He graduated at the Rubin Academy of Music, Tel- Aviv University and took on advanced studies of chamber music in the U.S.A. with the Guarneri quartet. He received scholarships of excellence from the America–Israel Cultural Foundation and won several competitions, including first prize in the François Shapira competition, Israel’s most prestigious national competition. Today, Arnon Erez heads the Chamber Music Department at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel- Aviv University.

“Piano and violin duo displays astonishing mastery…stunning performance…exceptional musical imagination…incredibly dramatic and exciting.” The Ottawa Citizen

Click this link to listen to and watch Hagai and Arnon play.

Also visit: www.hagaishaham.com