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February 18, 2011
More than a musical family
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra plays Mahler in Seattle on Feb. 26.
DANA SCHLANGER
I think I’m repeating myself, but bear with me. If there’s one thing you should do for your symphony-loving soul this winter, it is to go to Seattle for the only orchestra that will provide both the highest musical experience you’ll have in years and your mother’s praise at Friday dinner. On Feb. 26, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra will be playing Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, under the baton of Zubin Mehta, at Benaroya Hall in Seattle.
Seventy-five years ago, 75 Jewish musicians, who were being thrown out of their European orchestras for being Jewish, made their way to Palestine at the behest of the great violinist Bronislav Huberman, in order to create an orchestra in what was to become the Jewish state. They succeeded beyond their wildest imagination: the orchestra became legendary in its own right, associated with the major events in the country’s history, maintaining the highest standards of performance and hosting the greatest names in classical music, while also being Israel’s foremost cultural ambassadors, representing the country’s artistic excellence to the world.
The orchestra’s bond with the late and great Leonard Bernstein and the 50-year-long connection with music director Mehta define more than an ensemble. When President Shimon Peres praised Mehta for his contribution to music in Israel, he said, “His baton supplies us powerfully with magic and hope … he introduces harmony to our country, which is not often the case in abundance.…” Mehta responded by reminding those gathered of his commitment. “Thanks for your support for my orchestra that I love with all my heart,” he replied. “We are one big family.”
As in every family, even the musical ones, there are countless stories that everyone inside takes for granted and, just like in a regular family unit, IPO musicians finish each other’s sentences – albeit musical ones. A family full of personality, the IPO has been dubbed “an orchestra of soloists.” From a conductor’s standpoint, this may not be ideal, but this character is partly responsible for the distinctive IPO sound: lush and bold and carrying just enough chutzpah to melt hearts. Think Friday night dinner, where everybody has an opinion ... then multiply it by 10.
Shelly and Micha Davis are married, yet they don’t finish each other’s musical sentences. That‘s because Shelly plays the clarinet and Micha plays the trombone and seldom the twain shall meet, other than in the tutti sections, where everyone in the orchestra plays at once.
Shelly and Micha met while playing in the Israel Defence Forces Orchestra. Now, more than 25 years later, they have raised four children while working almost constantly, touring with the orchestra three to four times a year for several weeks, practising every day, playing chamber music as much as they can, teaching and, moreover, expanding their horizons into other fields, like studying interior design. With her typical smile that lights up a room, Shelly reminisced about her audition for the IPO. “It was three weeks after I had Inbal [their second daughter]. I still had to take last-minute lessons while carrying my newborn baby everywhere together with my mom to look after her. Five minutes before the highly stressful audition, I had to breastfeed Inbal.” Shelly went on to win the coveted second clarinet position, which brought about tremendous satisfaction and even greater challenges.
Micha and Shelly credit their families, especially Shelly’s mother, and their own relaxed attitudes, for raising children while remaining on top of their game musically. The kids learned to be independent and were entrusted with responsibilities early – playing music and pursuing other interests, with everybody pitching in. “We discovered that every time we return from tour, we truly re[charge] our batteries away from the children and experience something unique: the excitement of the return, the incredible happiness and love that surrounds us all when we come back,” said Micha. “Both sides then realize how incredibly lucky we are. We do this as a couple as well. Sometimes on tour we take separate rooms so as to not let routine take over our lives. For our kids and ourselves, we have healthy instincts and non-dogmatic attitudes; we seldom have arguments and we make a fantastic team.”
Teamwork is paramount to the functioning of a family as well as an orchestra, but individuality and the desire to shoot for the stars is just as important. Eyal Ein-Habar, assistant principal flute, flute soloist, conductor, professor and head of the wind department at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music in Tel Aviv, laughs off the notion of work-life balance. “Is there anything but music?” he asked jokingly.
Ein-Habar had always dreamed of conducting. “I thought it would be a fantastic challenge, I’d have what to contribute, etc. But I didn’t know anything about it, didn’t know if I was good enough … all I knew was that with conducting, the horizons seem infinite.” Fate knocked at the door in 2003 in the form of a small ensemble from his hometown Hadera, where he is a local hero.
“They asked me to come play the flute and conduct them. In some kind of instinctive reaction, I agreed and prepped for the concert for about half a year – you should see my scores, they looked like comics – I had no idea what I was doing. I started working with the orchestra and loved every second of it, and the concert was exactly on my dad’s 65th birthday.” After filming the concert, he asked a friend in the know if he should study conducting and the reply was, “You should not study conducting, you should conduct!”
When asked which orchestra he enjoys the most, there’s no hesitation: “The IPO, obviously!” Ein-Habar will have the opportunity to conduct the IPO again in June. “It’s amazing that when I sit inside the group and play, I have quite a lot of criticism in my head about how things sound, but when I stood in front of it [as conductor], I suddenly realized how amazing this orchestra is. The better the orchestra is, the more they react to your smallest intention and you have to do less. The only problem with the IPO is that they’re my friends and I have to be nice! It’s a fine line, because I have to be listened to and respected for the moment, but they won’t take any attitude from me either.”
On Feb. 26, don’t hesitate: join this amazing family of musicians in Seattle for a musical experience you will never forget.
Dana Schlanger is a freelance writer and director of the Dena Wosk School of Performing Arts.
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