Role

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Composer

Genre

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Chamber

 

Ella Milch-Sheriff is a renowned Israeli composer of classical music. She was born on April 28, 1954, in Haifa, Israel. Her parents were both Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Israel from Poland. Milch-Sheriff grew up in a musical family, with her father being a violinist and her mother a pianist. She began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Milch-Sheriff studied music at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, where she received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in composition. She also studied with renowned composers such as Mark Kopytman and Abel Ehrlich. Milch-Sheriff's early works were influenced by the Israeli folk music she grew up with, as well as the classical music of composers such as Bach and Beethoven. In the 1980s, Milch-Sheriff began to gain recognition for her compositions. Her works were performed by leading orchestras and ensembles in Israel and abroad. In 1986, she won the Koussevitzky International Composition Prize for her work "The Golem," which was inspired by the Jewish legend of a creature made of clay that comes to life. Milch-Sheriff's music is known for its emotional depth and lyrical quality. She often draws inspiration from literature and poetry, and her works often explore themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Her compositions range from solo pieces to large-scale orchestral works, and she has also written music for theater and film. One of Milch-Sheriff's most famous works is "The Dybbuk," an opera based on the play by S. Ansky. The opera tells the story of a young bride possessed by the spirit of her dead lover. It premiered in 2004 at the Israeli Opera and has since been performed in theaters around the world. The opera received critical acclaim for its haunting music and powerful storytelling. Another notable work by Milch-Sheriff is "And the Rat Laughed," a chamber opera based on the novel by Nava Semel. The opera tells the story of a young girl who survived the Holocaust and her journey to find her lost brother. The opera premiered in 2005 and has since been performed in Israel and Europe. Milch-Sheriff's other works include "The Golem," "The Child Dreams," "The Wandering," and "The Song of Songs." Her music has been performed by leading orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her work as a composer, Milch-Sheriff is also a professor of composition at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. She has mentored many young composers and has been a strong advocate for the development of new music in Israel. Milch-Sheriff has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to music. In 2010, she was awarded the Israel Prize for Music, the country's highest honor for achievement in the arts and sciences. She has also been awarded the ACUM Prize for Lifetime Achievement, the Prime Minister's Prize for Composers, and the Rosenblum Prize for Excellence in the Arts. In conclusion, Ella Milch-Sheriff is a highly respected composer of classical music who has made significant contributions to the world of music. Her works are known for their emotional depth and lyrical quality, and she has been recognized with numerous awards and honors for her achievements.

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