Saida Bar-Lev
Violin
Violinist Asi Matathias, protege of Pinchas Zukerman, is already recognized as one of the most celebrated talents of his generation. He made his debut at the age of 14 with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta, displaying a musical maturity and inspiration far beyond his years. This success was immediately followed by another invitation from Maestro Mehta to perform with him in the following season. Since then, he has performed as a soloist with numerous orchestras across the globe with such conductors as Eliahu Inbal, , Dan Ettinger, Horia Andreescu, Eduard Topchjan, Leon Botstein, Frederic Chaslin, the late Mendi Rodan and Gints Glinka.
Mr. Matathias has recorded for the BBC, CBC, WQXR, IBA and ORF. He is a frequent recitalist and has performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia, the US, South America and Israel, in foremost venues like Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, Zankel Hall and Weil Recital Hall, 92nd Street Y in New York, Berlin Philharmonie, Izumy Hall in Japan, Liederhalle in Stuttgart, Bronfman Auditorium in Tel-Aviv, Harbin Opera House and The National Arts Center in Canada.
As an enthusiastic chamber musician, he has collaborated with renowned artists such as Yefim Bronfman, Nikolaj Znaider, Pinchas Zukerman, Renaud Capucon, Nobuko Imai and Frans Helmerson. He has played in Festivals such as the Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival, The Con Anima Festival in Austria, the Vienna Bezirk Wochen Festspiele, the Israel Festival, Prussia Cove in England and other festivals around the world.
Mr. Matathias began playing the violin when he was six years old. In Israel, he studied with Chaim Taub, and became the youngest student to be enrolled at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna. He also studied with violinists Aaron Rosand and the late David Nadien.
Matathias was awarded the 2017 career grant from “Salon de Virtuosi” in New York. He was also awarded a diploma of excellence and has been supported by the America Israel Cultural Foundation since 1997. Matathias earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, where he was a long time student of Pinchas Zukerman and his teaching associate Patinka Kopec.