Three days of pianists

ANDY FELDBAU. (photo credit:LEON LE)

The third annual Pianos will take place at the Jerusalem Theatre on December 23 to 25. The festival, directed by composer and music life organizer Michael Wolpe, will host about 300 pianists who work in various genres of music, from classical and pop to jazz and Hebrew songs.

The festival will also serve as a meeting place for artists who will perform together in special programs.

Israeli classical pianist Andy Feldbau, 32, is among the participants. At the festival, he will perform with composer/pianist Shlomo Gronich in a program dedicated to Earl Wild’s arrangements of George Gershwin’s songs, such as “The Man I Love,” “I Got Rhythm” and “Embraceable You.”

Unlike many Israeli musicians of international caliber, Feldbau returned to Israel last year after completing his education abroad.

“This is my home,” he says simply.

“This is where my family and my friends live; this is where my colleagues teach at the Academy of Music, and this is where my audience is. I feel more secure here in many ways, and I feel more excited performing in a modest hall in Tel Aviv than, say, performing with the Jewish Orchestra of Los Angeles in front of 3,000 people – with all due respect to the attentive and devoted American audience.”

Born in Tel Aviv, Feldbau is the first professional artist in his family.


“I am a weird bird among my relatives,” he says. “Although there are no artists in my family, I was exposed to classical music from an early age, and I am grateful to my parents who recognized my gift for music and supported me.”

read more: http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Three-days-of-pianists-437488