The quiet Israeli
mainFrom the Lebrecht Record of the Week:
In May 1933, the composer Paul Frankenburger left Munich for Tel-Aviv, where he Hebraised his surname and became teacher of the first generation of Israeli-born composers. An austere man, steeped in German Bildung, Ben-Haim grew excited by the microtonal singing of Jews from Arab lands and accompanied the Yemenite performer Bracha Zefira at the piano on extensive concert tours. His orchestral music, however, remained strictly tonal….
Read on here.
And here.
And here.
photo: Israel National Library
What a shame the Israel philarmonic is so deeply engaged in playing the most mainstream repertoire and gives no tribute to Israeli or modern composers. Even Israeli conductors who enjoy great success elsewhere are disregarded if their expertise is the modern repertoire (e.g. Volkov).
Totally agree. There are several interesting Israeli composers who write orchestral music, and the IPO doesn’t play them. What a waste!
Hi. Writing from The Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Sydney.
Can you please help with a contact email etc for Alvaro Gallegos who’s just commented on this story.
My email is lomax.penny@abc.net.au
With thanks.
Israel doesn’t take pride in their own music. Many orchestras in Israel-very little performed music of Israeli composers. Their name’s little known. Ein navi b iro.