Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Ukraine

Birth

:

1901

Death

:

1979

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

Israel Alter was a classical music composer born on December 6, 1910, in the city of Warsaw, Poland. He was the youngest of six children in a family of musicians. His father, a cantor, and his mother, a pianist, recognized his musical talent at an early age and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Alter began his formal music education at the Warsaw Conservatory, where he studied composition with Kazimierz Sikorski and piano with Józef Turczyński. He also studied conducting with Grzegorz Fitelberg, who was a prominent conductor and composer in Poland at the time. Alter's studies were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II, and he was forced to flee Poland with his family in 1939. After a brief stay in Lithuania, Alter and his family settled in Palestine (now Israel) in 1940. There, he continued his music education at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, where he studied composition with Paul Ben-Haim and conducting with Leonard Bernstein. Alter also worked as a pianist and conductor for the Palestine Broadcasting Service, which was the precursor to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority. Alter's early compositions were influenced by the music of his native Poland, as well as by the folk music of the Jewish people. His first major work, the Symphony No. 1, was premiered in 1945 by the Palestine Symphony Orchestra (now the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra) under the baton of Leonard Bernstein. The symphony was well-received and established Alter as a promising young composer. In the years that followed, Alter continued to compose works that reflected his Jewish heritage and his love of traditional music. His compositions included chamber music, choral works, and orchestral pieces. One of his most famous works is the oratorio "Megillat Esther," which tells the story of the Jewish holiday of Purim. The work was premiered in 1958 and has since become a staple of the Israeli classical music repertoire. Alter's music was also influenced by his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. He lost many family members in the war, and his music often reflected the pain and suffering of the Jewish people during that time. One of his most moving works is the "Kaddish" for string orchestra, which he composed in memory of his father and other family members who perished in the Holocaust. In addition to his work as a composer, Alter was also a respected conductor and music educator. He served as the music director of the Israel Chamber Orchestra from 1965 to 1972 and was a professor of composition at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. He also mentored many young composers and musicians, including the Israeli composer Betty Olivero. Alter continued to compose music until his death on November 22, 1979, in Jerusalem. His legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and recorded by orchestras and ensembles around the world. His works are known for their emotional depth, their connection to Jewish tradition, and their ability to speak to audiences of all backgrounds.

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