Harnoy, Ofra

Ofra Harnoy. Cellist, b Hadera, Israel, 31 Jan 1965, naturalized Canadian 1977. She began cello lessons with her father, Jacob Harnoy, at six. Her family moved to Toronto in 1971. She studied with Vladimir Orloff in Toronto and William Pleeth in England, and in master classes with Pierre Fournier, Jacqueline du Pré, and Mstislav Rostropovich. By 1979 she had already appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the MSO, the Boyd Neel Orchestra, and the TS. She was a prize winner at the 1978 MSO Concours, the 1979 Canadian Music Competitions, and the 1982 New York Concert Artists Guild Award (she was the youngest first-prize winner in the history of this award). Edward Rothstein, reviewing her Carnegie Recital Hall debut (New York Times, 19 Dec 1982) wrote that she 'not only played like a mature artist, she seemed born to the instrument... the music seemed to sing within her as it was played, and was effortlessly translated into instrumental gestures, free of artifice'.

Keywords

Cellists

Harnoy premiered the newly discovered Cello Concerto in G by Offenbach with the Cincinnati SO in 1983, and gave the North American premiere of the Bliss Cello Concerto in Santa Barbara, Cal in 1984. By 1991 she had appeared as a soloist with leading orchestras in Canada, the USA, Venezuela, England (including three tours with the London Philharmonic), Europe, Israel, and Australia. She made seven trips to Japan 1985-91, including one (1991) with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Her recording of Vivaldi concertos (RCA 60155) was one of the best-selling classical albums in the world in 1990, and her other recordings have won numerous prizes, including three Juno Awards (1987, 1989, 1991), the Canadian Music Council's Grand prix du disque (1989), and record of the year or critic's choice awards from Gramophone, High Fidelity, Ovation, and CD Review magazines. H.C. Robbins Landon, reviewing Harnoy's recording of Haydn cello concertos (Fanfare DFL-6001), wrote 'she has approached these war-horses with fresh vision, a superb technique and flawless instinctive musicianship - not to overlook her excellent intonation. In a word, she plays magnificently' (Ovation, vol 6, Oct 1985). Harnoy made the transition from child prodigy to mature artist with surprising ease and by 1991 was widely recognized as one of the leading solo cellists in the world.

Harnoy, Ofra
Since her professional debut as soloist with the Boyd Neel Orchestra at age 10, she has appeared throughout the world (photo by Sussi Dorrell).

Author Robin Elliott

Discography

Arioso: Bach - Vitali - Mozart et al. Bloss organ. 1981. Masters of the Bow MBS-2013

The Art of Ofra Harnoy Vol 1: Franck - Ben-Haim - et al. (1990). Mastersound DFCDI-012

Beatles Connection. Armin Elec Strs, Riley arr. 1985. Fanfare DFL-9016/Pro Arte CDD-387

Beethoven Triple Concerto, Opus 56. Lechner piano, Verhey violin, Brabant SO, Marturet conductor. (1986). RCA Red Seal RL-71125

Best of Ofra Harnoy. (1986). Fanfare DFL-9019/Fanfare DFCD-9019 (CD)

Bloch Schelomo - Bruch Kol Nidrei, Canzone, Adagio on a Celtic Theme, Ave Maria. London Phil Orch, Mackerras conductor. 1990. RCA 60757-2-RC (CD)

Brahms Sonatas, Opus 38, 99. Aide piano.1983. MMG MMG-1143/RCA Red Seal RD-71255 (CD)

Cello Encores: Rimsky-Korsakov - Chopin - et al. Aide piano. MMG MMG-1137

Duets: Fauré - Debussy - et al. Kraft guitar, Baxtresser fl. 1983. MMG-1144

An Evening With Ofra Harnoy: Schubert - Boccherini - Casals. Orford Str Quar, Dussek piano. (1988). Pro Arte CDD-418

Favorite Encores: Kreisler - Liszt - Foss et al. Dussek piano.1985. Fanfare DFL-8011/(Gershwin) Fanfare DFCD-9020 (CD)/Pro Arte CDD-386

Franck Sonata in A - Chopin - et al. Aide piano, Bowkun piano. (1980). Masters of the Bow MBS-2011

Haydn Concertos, Hob. VIIb, No. 1, 2. Toronto Chamb O, Robinson conductor. 1983. Fanfare DFL-6001/RCA Red Seal RD-70943 (CD)/(No. 1) Pro Arte CDD-399

Offenbach Concerto Rondo. Cincinnati Pops O, Kunzel conductor. 1983. Vox Cum Laude D-VCL-9058/MMG MCD-10022 (CD)/RCA Red Seal RD-71003(CD)

Ofra Harnoy and Friends: Danzi - Schubert - et al. (1991). Pro Arte CDD-552

Salut d'Amour: Popper - Fauré - Bloch - Coulthard - et al. 1980-5. Dussek, Wilson, Bowkun piano. RCA 60697-2-RC (CD)

Schubert Sonata in A Minor 'Arpeggione' - Prokofiev Sonata, Opus 119 . Dussek piano. 1987. RCA Victor Red Seal 7845-2-RC (CD)

Tchaikovsky Nocturne, Opus 19 No. 4; Variations on a Rococo Theme, Opus 33 - Saint-Saëns Concerto No. 1, Opus 33. Victoria SO Freeman conductor. 1984. Fanfare DFL-7009/Pro Arte CDD-399/4-CMEA Canadian Artists Series Vol 1/(selections) RCA Red Seal RD-71003 (CD)

Vivaldi Concertos, RV 399, 401, 405, 409, 423, 538. McKay bsn, Toronto Chamb O, Robinson conductor. 1987. RCA Victor Red Seal 7774-1 (CD)

- Concertos, RV 402, 403, 406, 412, 414, 422, 424. Toronto Chamb O, Robinson conductor. 1989. RCA Victor Red Seal 60155-2-RC (CD)

Zuckert Pieza Melancólica. Parr piano. (1986). Jubal 5007/Fanfare DFCD-9019 (CD)

See also Discography for Orford String Quartet.

Bibliography

Crabb, Michael. 'Early to rise,' Toronto Life, May 1982

Singen, Kevin. 'Ofra Harnoy: cellist to be reckoned with,' PfAC, vol 19, Spring 1982

Hamilton, Andrew. 'The prodigious talent of cellist Ofra Harnoy,' Music, vol 6, Jan-Feb 1983

Pearce, John. 'A gift of virtuosity and showmanship,' Maclean's, 4 Apr 1983

Kaptainis, Arthur. 'Ofra Harnoy rises above the notion of maturity,' Toronto Globe and Mail, 4 Jan 1983

Harting-Ware, Lynn. 'Ofra Harnoy: Israeli-born cellist with RCA,' Music, vol 11, Nov-Dec 1988

Filmography

Ofra Harnoy: The Music Inside (Kinetic Film Enterprises Ltd 1985)

Links to Other Sites

Ofra Harnoy
The website for acclaimed Canadian cellist Ofra Harnoy features a biography, reviews, photos and a discography.

Ofra Harnoy
An interview with violinist Ofra Harnoy. Also includes links to retail sites which offer audio clips of her music. From the website for the Internet Cello Society.