Watch violin virtuoso Gil Shaham live at InClassica Festival 2025

Gil Shaham, one of the 21st century’s pre-eminent violinists, will perform as part of the 14th InClassica International Music Şenlik. Alongside the Franz Schubert Filharmonia and Spanish conductor Tomàs Grau, the American-Israeli musician will present a selection of works from classical legends to contemporary composers. 

Taking place at the Dubai Opera on Monday 14th April, the unforgettable concert ‘American Virtuosity: Gil Shaham’ will also be live streamed here on Euronews.

Shaham, 54, is world renowned for his mastery of the violin, both in technical proficiency and through imbuing the instrument with human depth. He is a Grammy Award-winner and has been named Musical America’s ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’. 

Since his soloist debut aged just 10 years old with the Jerusalem Symphony, Shaham has been celebrated as a preternatural talent, performing with the Israel Philharmonic just a year later before attending Julliard. 

Chosen to replace the legendary Itzhak Perlman in a set of performances with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1989, Shaham has gone on to solo for almost all of the world’s most foremost orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, and the Vienna Philharmonic. 

For InClassica, Shaham will perform alongside the Franz Schubert Filharmonia, a comparatively young orchestra that has invigorated audiences worldwide. Bringing together generational musicians with bold programmes, they are the perfect accompaniment to Shaham. 

The Franz Schubert Filharmonia will be led by Tomàs Grau, the Spanish conductor who works as its full-time Music Director. Grau is known for his sensitive characterisation that brings out a clear sincerity in his interpretations. 

Together, this tour-de-force of musicians will perform a trio of works at InClassica. First, Shaham will put his “Comtesse de Polignac” 1699 Stradivarius to the task of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492. 

Considered one of the greatest operas ever written, The Marriage of Figaro’s age belies its youthful spirit. This key repertoire piece was composed by Mozart in 1786. Its overture is an instantly recognisable rush of strings that will ignite any listener to the forceful power of classical music. Telling the story of two servants who marry despite the wishes of their philandering employer, Mozart’s complex score was as groundbreaking for its grandeur then as it is now. 

Next, the group will perform Violin Concerto No. 4 from American-Ukrainian composer Alexey Shor. From one of the oldest operas in the canon to this contemporary work, Shor’s Concerto’s is the perfect opportunity for Shaham to showcase his technical artistry and emotional depth. Inspired by his fascination with the sea, this work will showcase the vividly romantic imagery in Shor’s composition. 

The epic evening will conclude with a performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90. Commonly known as just the “Italian”, the Romantic period composer was inspired by the Italian way of life, its colourful characters and dramatic landscapes. Its sweeping opener with violins flying across complex articulation and dynamics will be a feat of virtuosity that will instantly transport the audience to the Italian hills. 

‘American Virtuosity: Gil Shaham’ is part of a bumper programme for the InClassica International Music Şenlik. From 6-21 April the 2,000-seat Dubai Opera will play host to some of the most talented classical musicians as part of “the world’s biggest musical observatory”. 

For the 14th edition of InClassica, the şenlik will open with a concert by the Franz Schubert Filharmonia alongside conductor John Warner and violin soloist Roman Kim. Throughout the run, audiences will be treated to concerts covering themes such as individual nation’s masters to studies of instruments before a finale featuring soloists Mikhail Pletnev and Daniel Lozakovich. 

‘American Virtuosity: Gil Shaham’ will be performed on 14 April at 8:00 pm in the Dubai Opera, as well as being available for live stream here.