Lior Kretzer, an Israeli pianist who lives and works in Vienna, is set to perform a concert of Viennese music in Tel Aviv this week. Kretzer will play songs and pieces by composers such as Mozart, Schubert, Leopoldi, and Strauss, accompanied by two young Israeli singers, Mika Cohen and Ezekiel Assia.
Kretzer was born in Israel and started playing the piano at the age of six. He was influenced by his grandfather, who was a Holocaust survivor and a lover of operas and operettas. Kretzer studied at the Rubin Academy of Music in Tel Aviv, and then moved to Vienna, where he completed his master’s degree at the University of Music and Performing Arts.
Kretzer is a versatile pianist and educator, who specializes in operatic, classical, and art song repertoire. He has performed in many prestigious venues and festivals, such as the Vienna State Opera, the Salzburg Festival, the Musikverein, and the Konzerthaus. He has also collaborated with renowned singers, such as Anna Netrebko, Elina Garanca, and Rolando Villazon.
Kretzer is also passionate about operettas, which are light-hearted musical comedies that originated in Vienna in the 19th century. He has played and conducted many operettas, such as Die Fledermaus, The Merry Widow, and The Gypsy Baron. He has also recorded several albums of operetta music, which have received critical acclaim.
The concert program and the singers
The concert, titled “A Taste of Viennese Gaiety”, will take place on March 18, 2024, at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. The concert is part of the “Vienna in Tel Aviv” series, which aims to celebrate the cultural ties between the two cities and to showcase the diversity and richness of Viennese music.
The concert program will include songs and pieces by some of the most famous and beloved Viennese composers, such as Mozart, Schubert, Leopoldi, and Strauss. The program will feature a mix of classical, romantic, and humorous works, such as Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”, Schubert’s “The Trout”, Leopoldi’s “In a Little Café in Hernals”, and Strauss’s “The Blue Danube”.
Kretzer will be joined by two young Israeli singers, Mika Cohen and Ezekiel Assia, who are both students at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music in Tel Aviv. Cohen is a soprano, who has sung in various operas and concerts, such as La Bohème, The Magic Flute, and The Messiah. Assia is a tenor, who has performed in several musicals and shows, such as Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, and The Sound of Music.
The concert’s goal and appeal
Kretzer said that the concert’s goal is to bring joy and happiness to the audience, especially in light of the current situation in Israel and the world. He said that he wants to share his love and enthusiasm for Viennese music, which he considers to be a source of inspiration and optimism.
He also said that he hopes to attract and entertain people of all ages and backgrounds, who may not be familiar with Viennese music or may have a wrong impression of it. He said that Viennese music is not only elegant and sophisticated, but also lively and fun, and that it reflects the spirit and history of Vienna, a city that has been a melting pot of cultures and influences.
He added that he is looking forward to performing with Cohen and Assia, who he praised for their talent and professionalism. He said that they have a great chemistry and a good sense of humor, and that they will bring a fresh and youthful energy to the concert.
