MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE & JOHN CRISTIAN PRODUCTIONS PRESENT THURSDAY 15 & MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE & JOHN CRISTIAN PRODUCTIONS PRESENT THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2016 MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 Beyond all this… Remembrance Antonín Dvoˇrák (1841—1904) Béla Bartók (1881—1945) (adapted for chamber orchestra Divertimento for Strings by Mordechai Rechtman) Allegro non troppo Cello Concerto in B minor, Op.104 Molto adagio Allegro Allegro assai Adagio ma non troppo Allegro moderato Joseph Haydn Cello Concerto in C, Hob.VIIb:1 Interval: 20 minutes Moderato Adagio Mark Kopytman (1929—2011) Allegro Molto Beyond all this… Interval: 20 minutes Joseph Haydn (1732—1809) Symphony No.85 in B-flat, ‘La Reine’ Mark Kopytman Adagio — Vivace Kaddish Romanze: Allegretto Largamente un poco rubato Menuetto: Allegretto Andantino, lontano Finale: Presto Lento, quasi recitativo Duration: one hour & 40-mins Franz Schubert (1797—1828) incl one 20-min interval Symphony No.5 in B-flat, D485 Allegro Andante con moto Menuet: Allegro molto Allegro vivace Duration: two hours incl one 20-min interval MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT PARTNER MELBOURNE PERFORMANCES SUPPORTED BY Yvonne von Hartel am & Robert Peck am AUSTRALIAN TOUR SPONSORS Embassy of Israel CANBERRA 3 4 WELCOME TO THE AUSTRALIAN DEBUT PERFORMANCES OF THE ISRAEL CAMERATA JERUSALEM ORCHESTRA I’m delighted to welcome you to this Melbourne Recital Centre Signature Event as we present the Australian debut of the Israel Camerata Jerusalem Orchestra and conductor Avner Biron with cellist Zvi Plesser. The Camerata is the leading chamber orchestra in Israel — no minor achievement in a country which boasts many acclaimed orchestras, ensembles and soloists. Like Australia’s, the musical life of Israel had been immeasurably enriched by the diverse people from around the world which have made it home, applying their talents and experiences to the creation of a vibrant culture. The Israel Camerata Jerusalem Orchestra joins the roster of great international ensembles the Centre has presented since 2012 — the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Hespèrion XXI, Les Arts Florissants and, most recently, Concerto Italiano. None of these would have been possible without the generous support of our donors and the enthusiastic response of you, our community. I pay tribute to the generosity of our supporters for the Israel Camerata Jerusalem Orchestra’s Melbourne performances: Yvonne von Hartel am and Robert Peck am. The Israel Camerata Jerusalem Orchestra’s Australian tour is supported by The Besen Family Foundation, The Pratt Foundation, Australia Israel Cultural Exchange, the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (Vic) with special thanks to Ambassador (Ret.) Gershon Zohar. I look forward to sharing these performances with you. Warm regards EUAN MURDOCH CEO, Melbourne Recital Centre 5 AVNER BIRON Conductor Avner Biron is the founder, music director and permanent conductor of the Israel Camerata Jerusalem Orchestra. Creativity, inventiveness and originality are the watchwords for his versatile musical activities. By intensive and inspiring work, he Avner Biron was the music director of has brought the orchestra to the several festivals, among them the highest standard in Israeli musical life, ‘Abu-Ghosh’ music festival and the and won worldwide recognition for it. ‘Music and Nature’ festival in the He creates original and interesting Galilee. He founded the Galilee Soloists concert programs, and restores rarely Ensemble, a virtuoso ensemble that performed repertoire to the Israeli gained international success within a concert halls, alongside renowned short time and was invited on concert masterpieces. Furthermore, he tours around the world. encourages original Israeli compositions by commissioning Avner Biron was the head of the works from Israeli composers, and Jerusalem Academy of Music and performing them in Israel, abroad Dance during 1994—2003. During his and on record. term, among other initiatives, he established the unique department of Avner Biron Under Avner Biron's musical direction Arabic Music, the department for and leadership, the Israel Camerata Multidisciplinary Music and the Jerusalem Orchestra relegates a Academy Chamber Orchestra. He has performed many recitals and considerable amount of its activities chamber music concerts. He has to educational programs and He was a member of the standing directed many master classes for works with students in Jerusalem committee of the organisation of flautists in Israel and abroad. As a and countrywide. Academic Institutions for Music in teacher and educator, Avner Biron has Europe (AEC). Avner Biron began his established a new generation of senior The orchestra, under his direction, has musical career as a flautist with the flautists and flute teachers. successfully performed many concert Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and as a tours in Israel, Europe, U.S. and the Far solo-flautist with the Israel Chamber In 2005 Avner Biron was awarded East at the most important venues in Orchestra. He studied biology at the the Minister of Education Prize for Amsterdam, Berlin, Leipzig, Bonn, Jerusalem Hebrew University and later excellence and artistic achievements Paris, New York, Washington, Los went to Vienna and the Salzburg over many years and for his Angeles, Chicago, Alaska, Beijing and Mozarteum for further studies in contribution to the musical life Shanghai among others. musical direction. His special approach in Israel. to music and interpretation is Biron’s many recordings with the influenced by extensive knowledge in Camerata have won wide professional music and science. and public acclaim in Israel and abroad. Avner Biron has conducted the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Sinfonieta Orchestra, and has been invited to conduct orchestras around the world. 6 ISRAEL CAMERATA JERUSALEM ORCHESTRA The story of the Israel Camerata Jerusalem Orchestra is unique. As an experiment in Israeli ‘melting pot’ endeavours, it has been hugely successful in bringing together veteran and newcomer musicians. As a cultural endeavour, it has achieved remarkable excellence in one of the most significant – and fiercely competitive – areas of the arts: classical music. Avner Biron, one of Israel’s leading Orchestra performs a repertoire musicians and musicologists, founded ranging from the early Baroque to FIRST VIOLIN Matan Dagan the Orchestra in 1984. In the early 90s, contemporary music, including world Natasha Sher a dramatic opportunity arose for the premieres of works commissioned by Carmela Leiman Camerata, when a flow of outstanding the Camerata, with a special emphasis Denice Djerassi immigrant musicians from the former on works by Israeli composers. Roman Yusupov Soviet Union arrived in Israel. A good Sophia Kirsanova A large number of Orchestra members number of these were invited to join Arnold Kobiliansky the Orchestra, and, under the direction perform and record as soloists, as well SECOND VIOLIN of Biron, a revolutionised Camerata as in chamber ensembles in Israel and internationally. Hadas Fabrikant emerged. Today, the Camerata is Eduard Reznik considered a shining success story in The Camerata began its performances Omri Zach the absorption of immigrants from the abroad in 1989, and since then has Michael Kontsevich former Soviet Union. frequently been invited to concert Yuki Ishizaka The development of the Camerata destinations all over the world, VIOLA Michael Plaskov since the arrival of these splendid garnering enthusiastic reviews. Doron Alperin musicians was truly meteoric. The The Camerata has also participated in Boris Rimmer outstanding quality of the musical a large number of festivals, including the Schleswig-Holstein festival, the Andrei Shapelnikov program, the high standards of its Avshalom Sarid performances and the sheer beauty Reingau Festival, the Weilburg Festival, of the Orchestra’s sound, have made and the Rolands-Eck Festival in CELLO Zvi Orleansky the Camerata the top chamber Germany, the Lille Festival in France, Marina Katz orchestra in the country. and in Vittoria, Spain. Alex Sinelnikov The 36-strong orchestra has The Camerata's many recordings have Jefim Aizenshtadt developed into that rare musical won enthusiastic reviews both in BASS creature: a fully harmonious collective Israel and overseas. Dmitri Rozenzweig made up of strongly individual talents. Music Director: Avner Biron Alexander Osipenko The collective cohesiveness is due to Soloist: Zvi Plesser FLUTE the uncompromising commitment Esti Rofe Orchestra Manager: Ben Zion Shira of Avner Biron to stringent, almost CLARINET academic standards of musicological Orchestra Stage Manager: Valeri Axenov Eli Eban analysis and study of each work, followed by intensive dialogue Orchestra Liaison: Gershon Zohar OBOE Muki Zohar and massive team work with John Cristian Productions: Ori Meiraz the Orchestra. Cristian Pilditch BASSOON The Orchestra performs over 100 Maurizio Paez concerts each year in Israel and Kristijonas Grigas abroad. Its activities include HORN subscribers’ series, festivals, special Alon Reuven concerts and unique educational Ruth Varon projects for schools in Jerusalem and TIMPANI & PERCUSSION in Israel’s peripheral areas. The Karen Phenpimon Zehavi 7 ZVI PLESSER Israeli cellist Zvi Plesser has a remarkably varied career, which has combined appearances as cello soloist, chamber musician, educator and music director. Based in Israel, Plesser has performed worldwide and collaborated with some of our time’s leading