Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra

The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra was founded by the British in 1936 as the Palestine Broadcasting Service Orchestra, in 1948 it changed its name to the Kol Israel Orchestra, and during the seventies to its present name; in 1975, it moved to the Henry Crown Symphony Hall, in Jerusalem’s theatre complex. In 1973, the orchestra performed Nordheim’s Epitaffio under the baton of Zubin Mehta. On the composer’s visit to Israel in 1990, during a series of concerts presenting contemporary music from around the world, the orchestra performed Epitaffio and Tenebrae under Doron Salomon, with the cello part played by Aage Kvalbein. The rehearsals were open to the public, and many people took the opportunity to listen to the music. During the concert itself, Nordheim outlined the notional content of the cello concert; among other things, he explained the use of a high register instrument, which was described by Thomas Mann in Doctor Faustus.

The Nordheim works were contrasted on the programme with Grieg’s Symphonic Dances, Op. 64 and six of his songs, in which the orchestra was joined by the soloistTorgunn Birkeland. The concert was broadcast by Israeli Radio. (jc)