Treger, Alexander

Violinist, conductor, music director and teacher from Russia who started his formal education at five years of age on piano and violin. He attended the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied with David Oistrakh. Upon graduation, he joined the Moscow Radio Symphony and eventually became the concert master of the Israel Chamber Orchestra.

In 1973, he emigrated to the U.S. and became a member of the L.A. Philharmonic in 1974. He became assistant concert master in 1978, second concert master in 1980, and concert master in 1985.

On 3^rd June 1984, he performed “Two Rhapsodies for Violin and Orchestra” by Bela Bartok at the Ojai Festival with the L.A. Philharmonic under the baton of Pierre Boulez.

He was again the featured soloist when the L.A. Philharmonic offered up Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Violin Concerto No. 1” in February 1987.

On 16^th and 17^th September 1988, he interpreted Henryk Wieniawski’s “Violin Concerto No. 2” with the L.A. Philharmonic conducted by David Alan Miller.

Sir Simon Rattle was the maestro in December 1988 when Alexander again shone in the spotlight on Jean Sibelius’s “Violin Concerto”.

In 1992, Alexander was the interim conductor of the symphony at the University of California-Los Angeles. He became conductor and music director of the Crossroads Chamber Orchestra in 1993. In 1994 and 1996, he was guest conductor of the American Youth Symphony. He became their music director in 1998. In January 1998, he made his conducting debut with the L.A. Philharmonic.

On 1^st April 2000, he performed Karol Szymanowski’s “Violin Concerto No. 1” with Zubin Mehta conducting the L.A. Philharmonic at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

From 2001 to 2003, he served as guest conductor of Finland’s Turku Philharmonic. He was back home in April 2003 for a performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Violin Concerto No. 4 in D, K. 218” with the L.A. Philharmonic and conductor Peter Oundjian.

On 22^nd February 2004, he conducted the American Youth Symphony in the world premiere of Lera Auerbach’s “Concerto No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 56”. He and the AYS did the same for her “Dreams and Whispers of Poseidon” on 29^th March 2005.

On 23^rd March 2008, he shouldered the solo work on music from Schindler’s List and Fiddler on the Roof as John Williams conducted the AYS in a concert of his film music.

He and the Crossroads Chamber Orchestra offered up Shostakovich’s “Chamber Symphony for Strings” on 17^th May 2009.

In September 2009, he was the guest conductor of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra in China. He performed similar duties for the Armenian Philharmonic in Yerevan in June 2010.

On 30^th January 2011, he conducted the American premiere of Charles Fox’s “Lament and Prayer” as well as Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante, K. 364”, with violist Jeremy Berry and violinist Francesca dePasquale sharing solo duties.

Alexander was the featured soloist when the AYS performed Felix Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto” under the baton of David Newman in Royce Hall at UCLA on 13^th March 2011.

On 16^th June 2012, he gave the L.A. premiere of Tyzen Hsiao’s “Violin Concerto in D” with conductor Frank Fetta and the Torrance Symphony at James Armstrong Theater.

Recordings on which he appears include: Art & Survival by Dianne Reeves; Leon Levitch: Ricordo di Mario/Fantasia for Oboe and Strings/Quintet for Flute and Strings and other works; Showstoppers by Barry Manilow; That’s What Friends Are For by Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams; The Three Tenors in Concert 1994; and, Unforgettable: With Love by Natalie Cole.

He can also be heard on the soundtracks of Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, The Grass Harp, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Throw Momma from the Train.

In the field of music education, he served on the faculties of the Elan International Music Festival, the Schlern Music Festival & Academy, and UCLA, where he was Professor of Violin for twenty years.

Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams recordings
Emotion (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb)
S CBS 6164B (UK 45)

Sources:

Treger, Alexander

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