Background
Sitkovetsky was born in Kiev. He started violin lesson at age 4, first with his father, then with David Bertie at the Central School in Kiev.
Sitkovetsky was born in Kiev. He started violin lesson at age 4, first with his father, then with David Bertie at the Central School in Kiev.
Moscow Conservatory.
As a child prodigy, he was chosen to play for Jacques Thibaud at age 8. One year later, he played the Mendelssohn concerto with the Kiev Symphony. In 1939, he enrolled in the Moscow Central Music School, class of Abram Yampolsky, whose students include Leonid Kogan, Igor Besrodny and Rotislav Dubinsky.
In 1947, he shared First Prize at the Prague Festival with Leonid Kogan and Igor Besrodny.
In 1952, he shared Second prize in the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition with Wanda Wilkomirska (first prize was Igor Oistrakh). (Of which Yehudi Menuhin said: "David Oistrakh and I were on the juryhe should have had First Prize").
Julian Sitkovetsky never toured much, as he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1956. He died in Moscow in 1958 at age 32.
Joseph Magil, critic (himself a violinist and violist) of the American Record Guide, said of Sitkovetsky: "..David Oistrakh said that, had he lived, Sitkovetsky would have eclipsed him and Kogan….
He had a broad, firm, focused tone in all registers. Flawless intonation; a rapid, even trill. A swift, perfectly controlled staccato.
Strong, immaculate harmonics.
An even, clear sautillé..".