Ivry Gitlis asked for a violin at four; those around him clubbed together for the instrument and the first lessons, and the child gave his first concert at seven. Noticed by Bronislaw Huberman, he left for Europe, entered the Paris Conservatoire and studied with Georges Enesco; all his life he would play the “Sancy”, a Stradivarius of 1713. He also played in films. His stone bears three elements: a name and two dates.
The story
At four he asked for a violin. Those around him clubbed together to buy him the instrument and pay for the first lessons — the child gave his first concert at seven.
Born in Haifa on 25 August 1922 to parents from Kamenets-Podolski, in Ukraine, and grandson of a synagogue cantor, he was noticed by Bronislaw Huberman, founder of the Palestine Orchestra, who urged him to leave for Europe.
In Paris he entered the Conservatoire in the class of Jules Boucherit — Ginette Neveu's class — and left it with a first prize at thirteen; Jacques Thibaud and Georges Enesco then gave him private lessons. All his life he would play the “Sancy”, a Stradivarius of 1713 inherited from him by the violinist Daniel Lozakovich. He also played on screen, for Truffaut in L'Histoire d'Adèle H., and one night in 1968 beside Lennon, Clapton and Richards in The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. He died on 24 December 2020, at ninety-eight.
The stone in Division 91 carries three elements: a name, two dates. Nothing of the violin bought by a collection, nor of the ninety-eight years of music that followed.
The grave
An inscription reduced to three elements: “Ivry GITLIS, 1922-2020”. Neither the violin asked for at four and paid for by a collection among those around him, nor the first concert at seven, nor Georges Enesco, whose pupil he was in Paris, nor the Stradivarius, nor the films. Three elements for ninety-eight years of music.
On site, do not miss
An inscription of three elements: “Ivry GITLIS, 1922-2020.” Neither the profession, nor the Stradivarius, nor the first concert given at seven.
Visitors' questions
Where is Ivry Gitlis's grave?
In Division 91, Avenue Transversale No. 2, first row — the Division of Blanqui and of the painter Geneviève Claisse. The inscription runs to three elements: “Ivry GITLIS, 1922-2020”. He died on 24 December 2020, at ninety-eight.
Geneviève ClaisseHow did he get his first violin?
He asked for it at four, and those around him clubbed together to buy him the instrument and the first lessons. Three years later he gave his first concert. His grandfather was a synagogue cantor.
Miłosz MaginWho brought him to Europe?
Bronislaw Huberman, the founder of the Palestine Orchestra, who noticed the child and had a subscription raised to send him to study in Paris, in 1933. There he entered the Conservatoire at eleven, then worked with Georges Enesco and Jacques Thibaud.
Ginette NeveuDid he act in films?
He did, in several: the hypnotist in Truffaut's L'Histoire d'Adèle H. in 1975, Sansa in 2003, Des gens qui s'embrassent at the age of ninety. Born in Haifa to Ukrainian parents, he made his whole career from France, on a Stradivarius of 1713, the “Sancy”.
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