Israeli is Vienna Phil’s next concertmaster
NewsThe Vienna State Opera has picked a new concertmaster for its orchestra. He is Yamen Saadi, 25, a Barenboim-Said Conservatory student from Nazareth.
He later studied with Chaim Taub, Israel Philharmonic concertmaster, and with Mihaela Martin at Kronberg Academy. Aged eleven he joined Daniel Barenboim’s West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, becoming its concertmaster at 17.
He will lead the opera orchestra for the first time next week in Sleeping Beauty. As concertmaster at the Opera he automatically becomes a candidate member of the Vienna Philharmonic.
Last season he played Mozart violin concerto no.4 with Israel PO, superbly. In September he played in the Jerusalem chamber music festival, excellent. Big future! Kwayes Ktir!
Wish him all the best!
Nazareth has a majority Arab population and is called the ‘Arab capital of Israel’. I can’t tell from his name (although others may know), but he may well be Palestinian and, if so, may well be the first Palestinian to gain such a position in an elite orchestra.
There is much focus in classical music scene in Israel in the past decade on bringing it to Arab cities- both the IPO and the ministery of culture opened several conservatories there ,and we hope that Saadi’s success is only the beginning of an era of many Arab- Israelies making careers in classical music. Saadi was taught by Haim Taub, the legendary concertmeister of the IPO and got scholarships by the America-Israel Cultural Foundation.
Hopefully amenities will be provided at the Musikverein for prayers……
Very good violinist, not a fit for VPO, especially as concertmaster. Like others in the recent past, it will not last.
Congrats to him! This is a third attempt to try to fill legendary Rainer Küchl’s seat since 2016 (first was José Maria Blumenschein, next was Fedor Rudin) so hopely this will be a permanent result for orchestra. He’s playing in Elgar’s Salut d’Amour is simply outstanding so he’s obviosly a rare talent!