VOA慢速英语20060417b

THIS IS AMERICA - Itzhak Perlman: A Citizen of the World, With His Violin as a PassportBy Paul Thompson

Broadcast: Monday, April 17, 2006

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VOICE ONE:

Many consider him the greatest concert violinist in the world. The music of Itzhak Perlman is our program today on the VOA Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA. I'm Steve Ember.


Itzhak Perlman

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VOICE ONE:

Itzhak Perlman was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in ninteen forty-five. Today he lives in New York City. But his music has made him a citizen of the world. He has played in almost every major city.

He has won fifteen Grammy awards for his recordings¹. He has also won four Emmys for his work with television.

Itzhak Perlman suffered from polio at the age of four. The disease damaged his legs. Today he uses a wheelchair or walks with the aid of crutches² on his arms.

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But none of this stopped him from playing the violin. He began as a young child. He took his first lessons at the Music Academy of Tel Aviv. Very quickly, his teachers recognized that he had a special gift.

At thirteen he went to the United Sates to appear on television. His playing earned him the financial aid to attend the Juilliard School in New York.

In nineteen sixty-four Itzhak Perlman won the Leventritt Competition in that city. His international fame had begun.

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His music is full of power and strength. It can be sad or joyful³, loud or soft. But critics say it is not the music alone that makes his playing so special. They say he is able to communicate the joy he feels in playing, and the emotions that great music can deliver.

Anyone who has attended a performance by Itzhak Perlman will tell you that it is exciting to watch him play. His face changes as the music from his violin changes.


Itzhak Perlman

He looks sad when the music seems sad. He smiles and closes his eyes when the music is light and happy. He often looks dark and threatening when the music seems dark and threatening.

In nineteen eighty-six, President Ronald Reagan honored Itzhak Perlman with a Medal of Liberty. In two thousand, President Bill Clinton awarded him the National Medal of Arts. Several major universities have awarded him honors. He continues to receive honors for his music.

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Today, Itzhak Perlman is also busy leading orchestras⁵. He appears on television. He teaches young musicians. He has worked with most of the top young violinists. He has recorded every major work for the violin, and has also recorded jazz, ragtime⁶ and Jewish folk music.

Years ago a reporter asked Itzhak Perlman why he did not play the Violin Concerto⁷ in D Major by Beethoven. He answered that he would play it when he had more experience. He has since played it and recorded it several times.

For a few moments, close your eyes and imagine you are in a theater. In front of us is the stage. To the left, Itzhak Perlman sits in his chair, near the conductor. The orchestra⁴ has already played the first two movements of Beethoven's D Major Concerto. The violin leads us to the third, and immediately announces the major theme.

Listen now as Itzhak Perlman performs with the Philharmonia Orchestra of London. Carlo Maria Giulini is the conductor.

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Our program was written and produced by Paul Thompson. I'm Steve Ember. Join us again next week for the VOA Special English program THIS IS AMERICA.

1 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

2 crutches   

n.拐杖, 支柱 v.支撑

参考例句：

• After the accident I spent six months on crutches . 事故后我用了六个月的腋杖。
• When he broke his leg he had to walk on crutches. 他腿摔断了以后，不得不靠拐杖走路。

3 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

4 orchestra   

n.管弦乐队；vt.命令，定购

参考例句：

• He plays the violin in an orchestra.他在管弦乐队中演奏小提琴。
• I was tempted to stay and hear this superb orchestra rehearse.我真想留下来听这支高超的管弦乐队排练。

5 orchestras   

管弦乐队( orchestra的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The orchestras, the choruses, the drama and opera casts, will be cut to pieces. 各个管弦乐队、合唱队、戏剧和歌剧的演员名单都将支离破碎。
• In Indonesia, gamelan orchestras play music on gongs, drums, and xylophones. 印度尼西亚，佳美兰乐队用锣、和木琴演奏音乐。

6 ragtime   

n.拉格泰姆音乐

参考例句：

• The most popular music back then was called ragtime.那时最流行的音乐叫拉格泰姆音乐。
• African-American piano player Scott Joplin wrote many ragtime songs.非裔美国钢琴家ScottJoplin写了许多拉格泰姆歌曲。

7 concerto   

n.协奏曲

参考例句：

• The piano concerto was well rendered.钢琴协奏曲演奏得很好。
• The concert ended with a Mozart violin concerto.音乐会在莫扎特的小提琴协奏曲中结束。