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Mortimer Zuckerman and wife Marla Prather
(left) with Elie Wiesel.
Photo
by Tim Boxer
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ISRAEL
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Israel
Proves
Mazel for Lorin
By TIM BOXER
EXACTLY
two weeks after Lorin Maazel
conducted the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra on its 65th
anniversary with a Jan. 15 performance at Carnegie Hall, he was
appointed the new music director of the New York Philharmonic. Born
in Paris in 1930 to American Jewish parents, Maazel will succeed Kurt
Masur late next year.
Call
him Maazel Tov!
Jo
Carole and Ronald Lauder,
co-chairs of IPO gala.
Photo
by David Braunstein |
The 70-year-old maestro is
currently music director of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
In May, he will again lead the Israel Philharmonic during its
European tour, which will include Spain, Italy and France.
At Carnegie Hall, Maazel
directed an all-Beethoven program with piano soloist Yefim
Bronfman.
Bronfman, born in Tashkent,
Soviet Union, immigrated to Israel in 1973 were he enjoyed instant
success. The next year he made his debut with the Israel
Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO).
Following the Carnegie Hall
concert, Ronald Lauder, gala co-chairman with wife Jo
Carole, welcomed the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic
Orchestra to its 11th annual gala at The Plaza.
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Pianist Yefim Bronfman (left) and conductor
Lorin Maazel at IPO dinner.
Photo
by David Braunstein
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He thanked the 740
supporters for raising $1.4 million for the orchestra’s
activities. “It’s absolutely phenomenal!” he exclaimed.
“Could not have done it without you…and Beethoven.”
Among the guests were James
D. Wolfensohn, Tricia and Jason Pantzer, Edward Pantzer,
Ellen Liman, Stacy and Matthew Brudner, Marion and Elie
Wiesel, Burton and Judith Resnick, Mort Zuckerman and wife
Marla Prather, curator at the Whitney Museum.
“In
this trying time for Israel,” said Lauder, “they never lose
sight of one of its most momentous treasures – its music.”
Itzhak
Perlman.
Photo
by Tim Boxer |
This portion of the evening
being a dinner, speeches were served first. Israeli Ambassador David
Ivry, well aware of protocol at such occasions, came prepared
with notes.
But first he told about a
person who came to deliver a talk. He took out his speech and talked
for 15 minutes. He went on for 30 minutes – until he realized he
was reading from two copies.
“I have here three
copies,” Ivry said. A rare bird indeed – a diplomat with a sense
of humor!
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Sy
Syms (left) and Ephraim Propp.
Photo
by Tim Boxer
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Itzhak Perlman,
co-chairman with Zubin Mehta of the IPO board, said he was
always thrilled to play or conduct the Israel Philharmonic.
“We played in many
countries, including Poland, Soviet Union, India. And there’s
nothing more exciting than to hear Hatikvah.”
He played in Israel the
previous week. He brought along several musicians from the U.S.
“There
was some American government fear for their safety,” Perlman said.
“Some politicians are not in harmony. I can assure you the
musicians are in harmony.”
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