CONCERT REVIEW

Jerusalem Music Academy Anniversary of the Eden-Tamir Center Wise Auditorium October 17

Some 50 years ago, on a sunny spring day, this writer walked with a friend near a half-destroyed house in Ein Karem, a deserted Christian-Arabic village in the outskirts of Jerusalem, and remarked: “In this villa I would like to live, if only I possessed the resources to purchase it.” My architect friend volunteered at once to restore the house.

A week later, I met my pianist classmate Alexander Volkovisky (later Tamir) of the then-Rubin Music Academy (whose name was changes after the philanthropist’s death). He exclaimed joyfully, “Just imagine, Uri, [Jerusalem mayor] Teddy Kollek has given me this house on condition that I establish there a music center. And that’s what I am going to do with my pianist colleague Bracha Ende (later Eden).

“Congratulations”, I said with a forced smile, trying to share Alex’s joy.

That’s how the Eden-Tamir Music Center came into being, running weekly chamber music concerts ever since, performed by local and foreign prestigious musicians.

A world premiere in the Music Academy’s Commemoration Concert of the Eden-Tamir Music Center’s 50-year anniversary was “Homage to Mozart” by Bracha Bdil, a disciple of Tamir. Perhaps, if Mozart were not mentioned in the piece’s title, one could enjoy it on its own merits, if any. Mozart’s need of a homage by an academy student did not become clear, however, by this work in which the Mozartian flavor was conspicuous by its absence, and its melodies and harmonies sounded appealing, though rather naïve.

The rest of the program consisted, appropriately, of works from the Eden-Tamir repertoire: Bach’s Three Concertos for Two Pianos and Mozart’s Two Piano Concerto, performed by the Academy’s piano teachers who did their best to recreate he Eden-Tamir spirit, though without their brilliance, with a string ensemble conducted by Michael Klinghoffeer.

With a film screening of Eden-Tamir, and Tamir’s reminiscences, this was a nostalgic event as well as a musical event.