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Überreichung
der Landesehrengabe „26 Portraits“
durch Frau Ministerin Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer
an den israelischen Komponisten Tzvi Avni.
Minister Annegret
Kramp-Karrenbauer handing over "26
Portraits" as an Honorary Gift of
the Saarland to the Israeli Composer Tzvi
Avni
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Saarbrückens
Oberbürgermeisterin Charlotte Britz mit Tzvi
Avni vor der Plakette Saarbrücken
Mayor Charlotte Britz with Tzvi Avni in
front of the Memorial Plaque
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Birthday celebrations in
Saarbruecken
Diary by Tzvi Avni
Following
my 80th birthday I was invited to my native city
Saarbruecken (Capital of the Saarland) for a
series of events planned and organized by the
Christian-Jewish Society headed by Professor
Herbert Jochum and Dr. Dani Maoz, in
collaboration with the municipality headed by
Oberbuergermeisterin Mrs. Charlotte Britz, and
the SR (Saarländischer Rundfunk) music editors
Dr. Friedrich Spangemacher and Mr. Wolfgang Korb.
I
had been informed only generally about two
official musical happenings, but through the days
of the visit events kept following each other,
and quite a few surprises kept coming up:
Sunday
September 9th:
A special radio broadcast - interview of 30
minutes, written, narrated and edited by Mrs.
Gabi Bollinger took place in the SR.
Monday
September 10th:
Reception at the Municipal Palace. Speeches by
Mayor Kajo Breuer, Prof. Herbert Jochum and
myself. Music: "Epitaph" - piano sonata
no. 2 played by Yvette Kiefer.
Professor Jochum announced the issuing of a new
CD with three of my works which were composed
upon commissions from Saarbruecken; "The
Ship of Hours" (orchestra), "A propos
Klee" (choir) and "Bridges" (duo
for violins).
Monday evening:
Concert at the Musikhochschule with vocal and
chamber works, under the auspices of Mrs.
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Minister of
Education, Family, Women and Culture. Performers:
Kolia Lessing - viola and piano, Osnat Kaydar -
Soprano, Sebastian Voltz - piano, Joshua Epstein
and Gesine Kolb - violins. Works performed:
"Phoenix", "Beside the Depth of a
River", "Behold Thou Art Fair",
"Bridges", "From my Diary",
"Capriccio" and "Collage".
Tuesday
September 11th:
I was guest of the city's
music school, where a meeting took place with
high school students. The discussion was
moderated by Mrs. Barbara Renno of the SR. A good
deal of it was devoted to the political
happenings which forced my family to leave the
Saarland in 1935. In the musical part we listened
to the recording of my "A propos Klee",
performed by the radio choir, conducted by Prof.
Georg Gruen.
Before the discussion I was
surprised by a special ceremony:
Oberbuergermeisterin Charlotte Britz, accompanied
by the director of the school Mr. Thomas Kitzig,
Prof. Jochum, Dr. Spangemacher and some of the
teachers, invited me to the main entrance of the
building and after a short speech she unveiled an
aluminum plaque on which a description of my life
and work was engraved. I was deeply touched by
this dedication. The whole experience of that
morning was one of the highlights of my visit.
In the afternoon an official tour in the city
took place, ending at the Synagogue, where we met
with some of the leaders of the Jewish community.
The
whole visit was wonderful. All the people
involved did their utmost to make the events
successful . The music performances were
excellent and I was very happy to meet old and
new friends.
On
September 19th, after my return to Israel, at 20:04
hours the Saarländische Rundfunk SR2 broadcasted
the concert which was recorded on the 10th in
full. It was also available as a download stream
in real time on the internet. It might be
possible to make this recording available on a CD
and we will keep you informed if and when this
option occurs.
At
this occasion I would like to sincerely thank all
known and unknown friends for their birthday
wishes, for the arrangements and honors staged
for this event and for the interest and sympathy
you have proven ever for me and my works.
Yours sincerely
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