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Young Musicians at the Forefront: The Annual David Goldman Concert Program at the Jerusalem Music Centre
The Jerusalem Music Centre, founded in 1973 by the great violinist Isaac Stern and Jerusalem's legendary former mayor Teddy Kollek, is Israel's leading organization in nurturing outstanding young musicians. The Center has contributed crucially to the development of thousands of musicians, many of whom now flourish as performers, composers and teachers. Critical to the Centre's great success, is its close cooperation with Israel's conservatories and academies. It offers gifted students throughout the country, the unique opportunity to learn from leading musical luminaries. Last night, the Centre hosted its annual David Goldman Concert Program. Young musicians from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, the Poliphony Conservatory and Yizrael Valley Music Center, the Hassadna Jerusalem Conservatory, the Givataim Conservatory, the Israel Conservatory Tel Aviv and the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts participated in this concert. The program comprised excerpts of works by Mozart, Shostakovich, Brahms, Ravel, Bernstein and Vilensky.
Expectations at such an event are seldom high, but this musical offering prove to be truly inspirational and revelatory. To hear music beautifully and competently played by this extraordinary group of talented youngsters was a feast for the ear and a moment of deep reflection for the heart. One left the event with the feeling that in the hands of these youngsters, the future of classical music, a subject much debated, is assured. Moreover the close participation of both young Arab and Jewish musicians, such as in the rendering of Mozart's flute quartet K 285 is perhaps the best answer to the idiotic and irrational international calls of boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions emanating from Britain and elsewhere.
At the conclusion of the concert, at the entrance to the Music Center, the lucky audience was serenaded by the talented brass ensemble from the Thelma Yellin High School with an adaptation of Rossini's overture to the Barber of Seville and Schubert's March Militaire. This music, heard in this incomparable setting overlooking the illuminated walls of the Old City, was an experience to be cherished.
Fig 1: Members of the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts, Tel Aviv, Credit Yael Ilan
Andras Schiff and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: That incomparable musician in the dual role of conductor and pianist
A notable recent musical event in Jerusalem was a concert of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra with the consummate artist, Andras Schiff, who fulfilled the role of both piano soloist and conductor. The program opened with a warm enticing performance of Brahms's lovely Variations on a Theme of Haydn, Op 56a. Schiff who conducted without a baton showed his mettle as a versatile musician in this work, one of the main staples of the classical repertoire. Under his expert guidance, the Philharmonic responded magnificently. Particularly impressive were the lovely warm glowing strings of which the Philharmonic is justifiably famous.
This was followed by Beethoven's fifth and final piano concerto, the so-called Emperor. Here I really missed an independent conductor who could muster the complex orchestral forces. Schiff made a supreme effort to coordinate the proceedings but was not so successful, particularly in the first movement. Tight cohesion between orchestra and soloist was lacking especially at the opening of the work. The adagio slow movement and the final rondo fared better with perfect synchrony between piano and orchestra. Particularly beautiful was Schiff?s sumptuous piano playing in the adagio slow movement where one could luxuriate in the overwhelming satisfying musical experience.
As an encore, Schiff offered Brahms's Intermezzo Op 117, No 1. He made two valiant attempts to begin but was interrupted by a noisy audience anxious to exit and incessant cell phones. After this abated, the audience remaining was privileged to hear Schiff give an inspirational and emotional reading of this piece. Here his true genius came out to the fore. This was a restrained beautifully nuanced performance and the absolute highlight of the concert, indeed one of the most supreme moments of music making that I have heard in a long time.
Fig 2: The pianist Andras Schiff. Credit: Yutaka Suzuki.
The Annual Israel Festival: This year's festival comprising dance, theater, jazz as well as classical music runs from 23 May till 19 June
Amongst the classical music offerings in this Festival will be a performance in celebration of the centennial of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra under its resident conductor, Frederic Chaslin. Also scheduled to appear in the festival is the celebrated State Choir from Latvia, under its music director, Māris Sirmais. They will perform a cappella concert alone and in a subsequent concert will be joined by the Estonian orchestral ensemble Hortus Musicus conducted by Andres Mustonen in works specifically related to Jerusalem.
Also featured will be Vox Luminis, one of the most prominent groups performing Baroque and Renaissance music. Their programming includes Scarlatti's Stabat Mater and his Te Deum.
David Stern will conduct Handel's oratorio, Esther. This will be performed by the Israeli Vocal Ensemble, one of Israel's leading professional choral groups accompanied by the Baroque Orchestra, which specializes in performing this music with ancient instruments.
A marathon of Beethoven's music will be directed by Gil Shohat. Works scheduled include his violin concerto, the Spring and Kreutzer sonatas for violin and piano as well as several piano sonatas and the third Razumovsky Quartet.
The Eden-Tamir Music Center in the village of Ein Kerem will host 8 concerts predominantly devoted to chamber works. This includes a Mini Schubertiade.
Another exciting musical event will feature Israeli mandolin player Avi Avital (a 2010 Grammy nominee) with bass virtuoso, oud player, and composer Omer Avital. Their unique concert will cross musical boundaries combining different styles. #
Dr. Irving Spitz is a music aficionado, traveler and photographer as well as Emeritus Professor of Medicine at Ben Gurion University in Israel. Read more from his complete blog archives at Education Update here.
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