HSO Concertmaster Leonid Sigal has enjoyed a multi-faceted career as recitalist, chamber musician, orchestra leader and soloist, as well as conductor. Since early performances he was praised by audiences and critics for his virtuosity and musical sensitivity. The Miami Herald wrote: “He demonstrated what a fine violinist he is, playing passionately and cleanly with a soaring tone”; and the Hartford Courant echoes: “His tone is consistently sweet. He brings a clear sense of phrasing, articulation and effortless virtuosity.” And most recently: “The richness of his interpretive voice remains fascinating.”
Born in Moscow into a musical family, Mr. Sigal began violin studies at age five and was accepted to the renowned Gnessin School of Music. He went on to graduate with excellence from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where he studied with Maya Glezarova. Winner of several violin competitions and recipient of the Meadows Artistic Scholarship Award, he moved to the U.S., where he continued his studies and was later invited by Michael Tilson Thomas to join a prestigious orchestral fellowship at the New World Symphony.
Mr. Sigal’s vast performing experience includes recitals, chamber music performances, festival and orchestral appearances in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Japan, South Korea and throughout Europe. He has performed under Sir Georg Solti, Leonard Bernstein, Christoph Eschenbach, Michael Tilson Thomas and Herbert Blomstedt, among others. A passionate chamber musician, he has collaborated with Mstislav Rostropovich, Evgeny Kissin, Edgar Meyer, James Ehnes, Roberto Díaz, William Wolfram and Jason Vieaux. He founded and has served as Artistic Director of the celebrated Sunday Serenades, a popular chamber music series at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford. Now in its 16th season, the series has been highly regarded for creative programming of both traditional as well as rarely heard Baroque, Classical and Romantic repertoire, along with notable works by 20th-century and contemporary masters.
Mr. Sigal’s appearances as soloist include highly acclaimed performances of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Bach’s Double Concerto with Joseph Silverstein, Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy, concertos by Mozart, Brahms, Sibelius, Stravinsky, Barber, Prokofiev and Shostakovich, Waxman’s Carmen Fantasy and Chausson’s Concerto for Violin, Piano and Strings. In 2011, he performed a world premiere of Stephen Michael Gryc’s violin concerto Harmonia Mundi, specially commissioned and written for him.
Recent and upcoming seasons’ highlights include Brahms’ Double Concerto with cellist David Finckel, concertos by Korngold, Saint-Saëns, Glazunov, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with Margreet Francis and Wendy Warner, and Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole, Leonard Bernstein’s Serenade to commemorate the composer’s centennial, as well as Hartford premiere of Winton Marsalis’ Violin Concerto. In addition to a busy performance schedule, he had served on faculties at the University of Florida and University of Hartford’s The Hartt School.
In addition to his HSO duties, he has served as Concertmaster of the Atlantic Classical Orchestra and, since 2012, at the invitation of Music Director Gerard Schwarz, he has been part of the Emmy Award-winning nationally syndicated program The All-Star Orchestra alongside fellow principals from major American orchestras. Previously Associate Concertmaster of the Florida Philharmonic, he has performed with the San Diego Symphony and Boston Symphony, and is in demand as a guest concertmaster and conductor. He served as Artistic Director of the Miami Chamber Symphony, and has made frequent returns to podium.