Israel Philharmonic Orchestra gala features well-known guest performers

By Eileen Wingard

SAN DIEGO — The Academy-Award winning actress, Dame Helen Mirren, served as the host of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Global Gala, streamed on Sunday, to a world-wide audience. Her father, Vasily Mironoff, played viola with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, so she grew up loving symphonic music. She eloquently introduced the participating artists, some of whom spoke, while others presented cameo performances.

The star of the Gala was the new, young conductor of the IPO, the energetic, multi-talented Israeli-born, Lehav Shani. He demonstrated his abilities as a consummate pianist, performing a movement from the Dvorak Piano Quintet with string members of the IPO. He concluded the program by conducting the orchestra in the finale of Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony, displaying electric energy and expert baton technique.

Like his predecessor and mentor, Zubin Mehta, Shani plays the string bass. He actually played in the bass section of the IPO. During the end of Mehta’s 50 year tenure with the orchestra, Shani guest conducted on numerous occasions. He has just been appointed permanent guest conductor of the Vienna Symphoniker. Mehta studied in Vienna and has strong connections with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Shani also holds the post of Music Director of the Rotterdam Orchestra.

Shani’s other mentor was Daniel Baremboim, who is known for his piano virtuosity as well as his conducting prowess. Sunday’s Gala confirmed Shani’s qualifications as the inheritor of the mantles from these two great mentors, Zubin Mehta and Daniel Barenboim.

Among the cameo performances during the Gala were violinist Pinchas Zukerman, his wife, cellist Amanda Forsythe, and Canadian pianist Bryan Wagorn, playing a trio arrangement from the film score to Ladies in Lavender;  Violinist Gil Shaham and his wife, Adele Anthony, in an arrangement of the Meditation from Thais by Massenet; pianist Evgeny Kissin playing a Gershwin Prelude; and pianist Yefim Bronfman performing Chopin’s Nocturn in Db major. Bronfman’s sister was a violinist with the IPO.

One of the highlights of the Gala was the clarinet artistry of Swedish clarinetist, Martin Froest, performing what sounded like a klezmer tango with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra.

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra has a significant history, having been formed in 1936 by the great Polish-born concert violinist, Bronislaw Huberman, for the purpose of rescuing as many of the Jewish orchestral musicians as he could from Nazi-occupied Europe.  He recruited the great Italian maestro, Arturo Toscanini, to lead the opening concerts. William Steinberg continued as conductor of the new ensemble. The IPO became Israel’s leading ambassador of good will throughout the world, and brought great music to all corners of the country. When the Jewish state was proclaimed in 1948, the orchestra played a major role in the ceremonies and celebrations.

Steinberg’s title was actually “Music Adviser.” The Orchestra had several Music Advisers, including Leonard Bernstein, 1947-49; Paul Paray, 1949-51; Bernardino Molinari and Jean Martinon before Zubin Mehta assumed that title in 1968. He remained with the orchestra for the next 50 years. In 1971, his title was changed to Music Director, and ten years later, it was elevated to “Conductor for Life.”

Lehav Shani, the newly appointed Music Director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is the first Israel conductor to hold this post. Many of the younger musicians in the orchestra were his classmates and he seems to have a collaborative, collegial bond with the musicians.

The Gala concluded with a stirring rendition of Hatikvah, The Hope. The hope that music can help connect people, bind wounds and bring peace to Israel and to all mankind.

Apparently, the Gala was disrupted by suspected hackers, so that many of the 13,000 registrants from around the world were not able to access the event.

However, the full gala is available to view now on YouTube. It is an inspiring program, and we are all encouraged to contribute to the sustenance of this wonderful ensemble, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Eileen Wingard, a retired violinist with the San Diego Symphony, is a freelance writer specializing in the coverage of the arts.  She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com