Aaron Rosand

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Aaron Rosand carries
love of music
throughout his life

by Raymond Rosand

Just prior to the new millennium, and committed to be in Scotland for the turn of the century, Aaron Rosand was in Malaysia recording the Sibelius and Khachaturian violin concertos.

Rosand, one of the century's most highly regarded violinists, is my brother. He recently celebrated his seventy-third birthday, and his artistry seems only to increase with age. Last year he recorded the popular Beethoven Violin Concerto in Monte Carlo. Nearly every violinist has recorded this work, but critic Robert Maxham wrote in Fanfare that Aaron's "---is the very best".

Aaron Rosand could record anywhere in the world, so why did he choose Malaysia for his latest disc? First, the musicianship in Asia is first-class, and Asia is coming to play an ever more important role in classical music. Second, Aaron has a particular affinity for that part of the world. Aaron's love affair with Asia began shortly after VJ Day.

I recall a day in the Spring of 1946, following World War ll, when Aaron came home to Chicago, still in uniform. He had just completed a USO tour of the Philippines, Japan and Korea. The war with Japan had recently ended and Aaron was eager to build bridges of peace the only way he knew how, with his violin. He was fascinated by Asia. It was obvious to me that Asia would become a major portion of Aaron's life. He now shares it with his beautiful wife Monica Woo, who was born in Hong Kong.

Who would have guessed, back in the 1940s, that Asia would come to play such an important role on the classical music performance stage? On a recent visit to Aaron's studio at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, I saw and heard several of Aaron's Asian pupils, including Bo-Kyung Lee, Paul Kim, and Stephanie Jeong. Stephanie performed the Tchaikovsky violin concerto with Hugh Sung at the piano. These and other rising stars will add to the already immeasurable contribution of this part of the world to classical music. For the first time in his long career and a vast legacy of recordings, Aaron Rosand now has a disc with an Asian orchestra.

Following the recording sessions in Kuala Lumpur, Aaron was off to Scotland. In October 2000, he will be returning to Taipeii, Hong Kong and Beijing for concert appearances.