From Jan. 10 to 15, the internationally-acclaimed and multi-awarded Tel Aviv Trio visited Metro Manila and two provincial cities to show a different side of Israel – that art, life and exquisite music go on despite the two-year barrage of violence from their foes. Their final performance in Makati last Jan. 14 was just a few days before their national elections back home, testament to Israel as the only democracy in the whole Middle East.
The three musicians told Philippine Star, in an exclusive interview just before their well-applauded Mandarin Oriental recital, that they enjoyed performing here due to "the musical nature of the Filipino people." They were pleasantly surprised when an Iranian Muslim student in their Jan. 11 Cebu audience gifted them with his caricatures of the Tel Aviv Trio as an expression of his appreciation for their music. The Arts Council of Cebu had earlier received a letter complaining against the invitation of an Israeli group, but the council gave assurances that the Tel Aviv Trio was bringing the message of music, which is beyond politics.
At the Captain’s Bar of the Mandarin Oriental on the night of Jan. 14, the audience was entranced by the ravishing beauty and power of their music. Their program included the Trio in C Major Hob: XV No. 21 by Franz Joseph Haydn, Trio in C Major Op. 87 by Johannes Brahms and Medley of Bedouin Debkas by Jonathan Keren. It was an enchanting evening of music, a beautiful gift from Israel to the Philippines.
The Tel Aviv Trio performed successful recitals in Mandarin Oriental, Manila, City Sports Club in Cebu City and the Luce Auditorium of Siliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental province. They were invited by the Israeli Embassy, led by Ambassador Irit Ben-Abba, Air Philippines, Mandarin Oriental, Manila, the Arts Council of Cebu and the Cultural Affairs Committee of Dumaguete City. Their visit is part of an Asian tour. They perform next in Europe, Israel, Australia, including an invitation to participate in the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition.
Jews love music since ancient times, and the three youths grew up playing music at home. The Tel Aviv Trio was founded under the auspices of the Jerusalem Music Center in 1998. They were the last young artists mentored by the great violinist Isaac Stern.
Pianist Jonathan Aner is 24 years old, now a student of Prof. Konrad Elser in Lubeck of north Germany, and has performed as soloist with Israel’s top orchestras, won international awards and joined many music festivals. His mother is from a Morrocan Jewish family in Casablanca, while his Israel-born father’s parents were Polish Jews.
Jonathan recalls the thrill of having played on the old piano of the Jewish scientist Albert Einstein in the concert hall of a kibbutz in Israel. He admires the England-based Greek Jewish musician Murray Perahia as the world’s finest pianist today.
Violinist Matan Gival is 20 years old, now a student of Prof. Zakhar Bron in Cologne, Germany, and is a winner of international competitions. He performed in the 1999 commemorative ceremony for the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin attended by world leaders.
Matan said that the violin has gained a stereotype in history as "a Jewish instrument." The world’s finest violinists he admires most are two Jewish musicians, the late Isaac Stern and the USA-based Itzhak Perlman (who performed for the award-winning film Schindler’s List and China’s new epic film Hero).
Cellist Ira Gival is 23 years old, now a student of Prof. Hans Helmerson in Cologne, Germany, and has performed as soloist with top Israeli orchestras and won awards.
Ira said he admires Paris-born Chinese musician Yo-Yo Ma as the world’s finest all-around cellist, because this young musical genius is so versatile he can play baroque, classical and pop music so well.
Both Gival brothers grew up in a Tel Aviv City neighborhood called Ramat Hachayal, which refers to Jewish migrants from China who first settled there in the 1930s. However, their Israel-born father is from an Egyptian Jewish family in Cairo. Their Israel-born mother has roots in the Polish Jewish village of Ludmir, a place which was lost to the Holocaust and World War II.
Ira Gival commented that control of this territory had moved "like a pingpong between Poland and Ukraine during the war."
The cosmopolitan backgrounds of the three musicians reflected the unique roots of many Israelis in the 2,000-year-old Jewish diaspora. Israeli Ambassador Irit Ben-Abba is herself the child of Italian Jews, while her 28-year-old Second Secretary Roi Dvir had three grandparents who were Polish Jews from the cities of Warsaw and Lodz, while his maternal grandmother is from the Croatian Jewish community.
When asked about the Israeli national anthem Ha Tikva, Jonathan said: "The title literally means "The Hope" and it was composed in the 19th century. It speaks about the Jewish people’s hope to have our sovereign country, to live in freedom. There was still no state of Israel then."
Ira commented: "Most of the music in our national anthem is very mellow, melancholic, not like most other anthems usually evoking pride in their country."
Jonathan added: "It is a beautiful song that speaks of hope, of uncertainty."
Diplomat Roi Dvir said: "It speaks of our quest for freedom in our homeland. That’s the biggest lesson we learned from the Holocaust, that the Jewish people worldwide needed a country, an army to protect that state. Israel seeks peace and freedom."
The Tel Aviv Trio was the first Israeli ensemble to perform in the Arab Muslim nation of Qatar in the Persian Gulf region in 1999 during Israeli Independence Day. They wished they were allowed to perform music for the people of Qatar, not just for the diplomatic community.
Jonathan said: "We just love playing our music, showing the other side of Israel. Art and music are languages everybody can speak and understand, whether Jewish, Arab, Filipino, Chinese or American."
Ira added: "We musicians are ambassadors of goodwill. We hope that our music can help bring understanding to all."
Roi Dvir explained: "That year 1999 was a very good year in the Iaraeli-Arab peace process, but the situation is unfortunately different now and there have been two years of violence. These three talented musicians are indeed our ambassadors of goodwill, perhaps better than we, professional diplomats, who may be regarded with suspicion by our foes due to our political duties. Their visit here is the first of a series of cultural offerings from the Israeli Embassy for our traditional good friend, the Philippines."