Overview
Settle in as the world’s most electrifying artists and ensembles converge at Davies Symphony Hall. A Bay Area favorite, the Israel Philharmonic returns to Davies Symphony Hall under the direction of Lahav Shani.
GREAT PERFORMERS SERIES
Israel Philharmonic
March 23, 2025
Program
Tzvi Avni
Prayer
Max Bruch
Kol Nidrei
Leonard Bernstein
Halil
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 5
Sponsors
This concert is generously made possible by Nellie and Max Levchin.
Presenting Sponsor of The Great Performers Series
Presenting Sponsor of The Great Performers Series
Lahav Shani
Conductor
Lahav Shani, music director of the Israel Philharmonic, has been chief conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic since 2018 and was previously principal guest conductor of the Vienna Symphony. In February 2023, the Munich Philharmonic appointed him as their new chief conductor, starting from September 2026. His close relationship with the Israel Philharmonic begain in 2007, when he performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto under the baton of Zubin Mehta, and continued in 2010, when Mehta invited him to join the Israel Philharmonic on tour as pianist, assistant conductor, and double bass player. In 2013, after winning the Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition in Bamberg, the orchestra invited him to step in to conduct their season opening concerts.
Shani has also appeared with the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Bavarian Radio Symphony, London Symphony, La Scala Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, and Philharmonia Orchestra.
Born in Tel Aviv in 1989, Shani began his piano studies aged six before continuing at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music. He went on to study at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin, and was mentored by Daniel Barenboim.
Shani has also appeared with the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Bavarian Radio Symphony, London Symphony, La Scala Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, and Philharmonia Orchestra.
Born in Tel Aviv in 1989, Shani began his piano studies aged six before continuing at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music. He went on to study at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin, and was mentored by Daniel Barenboim.
Israel Philharmonic
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The Israel Philharmonic is one of Israel’s oldest and most influential cultural institutions. Since 1936, it has dedicated itself to presenting the world’s greatest music to audiences in Israel and around the world. Founded by the Polish violinist Bronisław Huberman, the Israel Philharmonic represents the fulfillment of his dream “to unite the desire of the country for an orchestra with the desire of the Jewish musicians for a country.” Huberman persuaded first-chair musicians of Eastern European and German orchestras who had lost their jobs as a result of Nazism to immigrate to Palestine. In doing so, Huberman created an “orchestra of soloists,” which continues to act as a dynamic global community for musicians from across the world. Huberman invited Arturo Toscanini to conduct the opening concert, performed at the Levant Fair in Tel Aviv on December 26, 1936.
The Israel Philharmonic is Israel’s premier cultural ambassador and travels extensively throughout the world, particularly to countries where there is little or no Israeli representation. In December 2022, the Israel Philharmonic performed a historic concert in Abu Dhabi at the invitation of the Abu Dhabi Ministry of Culture, celebrating the Abraham Accords. Other historical visits include the orchestra’s first tour to Russia in April 1990 and the first tour to India in December 1960. The orchestra performs in the most important venues and festivals in Europe, the United States, South America, China, and Japan. The orchestra gives more than 100 performances each year in Israel, where concert series are presented in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa.
In 1969, Zubin Mehta was appointed music advisor to the IPO and in 1977 he became its music director. Mehta retired in October 2019 and the IPO named him music director emeritus. Lahav Shani became music director in the 2020–21 season.
The Israel Philharmonic’s 2025 US tour is underwritten by American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic and sponsored by Pfizer.
Exclusive Tour Management and Representation: Opus 3 Artists
The Israel Philharmonic is Israel’s premier cultural ambassador and travels extensively throughout the world, particularly to countries where there is little or no Israeli representation. In December 2022, the Israel Philharmonic performed a historic concert in Abu Dhabi at the invitation of the Abu Dhabi Ministry of Culture, celebrating the Abraham Accords. Other historical visits include the orchestra’s first tour to Russia in April 1990 and the first tour to India in December 1960. The orchestra performs in the most important venues and festivals in Europe, the United States, South America, China, and Japan. The orchestra gives more than 100 performances each year in Israel, where concert series are presented in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa.
In 1969, Zubin Mehta was appointed music advisor to the IPO and in 1977 he became its music director. Mehta retired in October 2019 and the IPO named him music director emeritus. Lahav Shani became music director in the 2020–21 season.
The Israel Philharmonic’s 2025 US tour is underwritten by American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic and sponsored by Pfizer.
Exclusive Tour Management and Representation: Opus 3 Artists
Haran Meltzer
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Cello
Haran Meltzer is principal cello of the Israel Philharmonic. He won first prizes in the Aviv Competition, Davidov Competition, and Gabrielli Competition, and has received scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and the Zfunot Tarbut Foundation. As a chamber musician, he collaborated with Itzhak Perlman, among many other prominent musicians. Meltzer studied at the Kfar Saba Conservatory, Israel Conservatory of Music, and Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin. He plays on a cello loaned by the Israel Philharmonic and a bow loaned to him by the America-Israel Cultural Foundation.
Guy Eshed
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Flute
Guy Eshed is principal flutist of the Israel Philharmonic and has been principal of several other orchestras internationally. After his military service, he was principal in the Haifa Symphony Orchestra and since 2001 has been principal of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, directed by Daniel Barenboim. He has received scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and received a special grant of excellence from the Toepfer Foundation in Hamburg.
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