By Eileen Wingard
SAN DIEGO –Yoav Talmi, one of Israel’s foremost composers and conductors, will be speaking during services at Ohr Shalom Synagogue, 3rd and Laurel, in San Diego, next Friday evening, March 6, 7:30 p.m. His talk will be: “From the Diary of an International Israeli Conductor.”
Talmi, former conductor of the San Diego Symphony from 1987 to 1996, and Artistic Director of the Quebec Symphony Orchetra from 1998-2011, currently serves as Professor of Conducting at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Tel Aviv University. He will be in Southern California to conduct the orchestra and to present conducting master classes at the Thornton School of Music of the University of Southern California.
When news came that he and his wife, Er’ella, will be visiting San Diego, and that they will be staying with one of Ohr Shalom’s congregants, Rabbi Scott Meltzer seized on the opportunity to invite the celebrated maestro to speak during Friday night services.
An Israeli song, which Talmi set for flute and keyboard, will be performed during the service by 17-year-old Jonathan Sussman, who has just been admitted to the University of Southern California.
Talmi has guest conducted most of the world’s great orchestras. His compositions range from “Ghetto Songs for String Quartet” to De Profundis for Choir and Orchestra, a work with text in several languages, premiered at his final concert with the Quebec Orchestra. When he last guest conducted the San Diego Symphony, his Elegy for Strings, Timpani and Accordion (“Dachau Reflections”) was performed to critical acclaim.
In 2008, he was awarded the Frank Pelleg prize of the Israeli Cultural Ministry, for his high-level artistic achievements over many years of activity, and in 2013, he received the Israeli Prime Minister’s Prize for Composers. At various periods, he has been the conductor of the Israeli Opera and the Israeli Chamber Orchestra.
Talmi was born and raised at Merhavia, one of Israel’s oldest kibbutzim. His father, Abraham, was the music teacher at the Kibbutz. Abraham, in later life, also became a recognized abstract artist.
Yoav met his wife, Er’ella, a flutist, while they both were serving in the IDF. He even composed the IDF March, which is still used today.
They both studied at the Juilliard School in New York City, and both were recipients of America-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarships.
They are parents to two children, Gil, a composer of film and TV scores who resides in New York City, and Donna, who lives, with her husband Miguel, and three children, in Zichron Yaakov and directs a work-study program for college graduates.
The Talmis said they look forward to seeing many of their San Diego friends during their week-end visit to the city they once called “home.”
*
Wingard is a former violinist with the San Diego Symphony and a freelance writer who specializes in coverage of the arts. Your signed comment (first and last name) may be posted in the space provided below or sent to eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com