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ELBERT LECHTMAN STEINBERG

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Elbert Lechtman Steinberg BIOGRAPHY His preoccupation with music as a transcendental expression of the human spirit was evident in him since early childhood. Born on July 16, 1959, began his musical studies playing the violin at age six. He learned to read music mainly on his own and by age ten started to write his first compositions. At age eighteen had his first published work in the United States and by age twenty six was appointed Musical Director of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, the youngest conductor ever designated to that position. In those years, the music critic of La Nación, Costa Rica’s leading newspaper wrote: “Mr. Lechtman Steinberg and the orchestra climbed musical peaks perhaps never before reached in this country.” (Andres Sáenz, La Nación, May 28, 1986) In 1978 studied Composition with León Schidlowski in Tel Aviv, Israel and a year later entered the composition class of Dr. Juan Orrego Salas, chairman of the Composition Department at Indiana University School of Music. That same year was awarded the first prize in the composition contest which the University sponsored with an international jury, was appointed assistant to Dr. Orrego Salas and assigned in charge of the Latin American Music Center, the world’s largest collection on contemporary Latin American Music, founded by Dr. Orrego Salas at Indiana University. This provided him with the opportunity to receive a scholarship which enabled him to continue his studies at Indiana University, from where he graduated with distinction in 1982. This set up provided him with the freedom to write as much as possible, to have all his works performed, and in most cases, to conduct his own works. A year and a half later, he completed his course work towards a Masters Degree in Music, also with distinction. On a letter dated December 13, 1982, addressed to his college, Maestro Argeliers de León, Director of the Musical Department of Casa de Las Américas, La Havana, Orrego Salas writes: “The bearer, Elbert Lechtman Steinberg, has been one of the most gifted students of composition I have had in my many years of teaching at this university.” Despite the recognition he received in the United States, not satisfied with his own musical language in particular, and in general with the whole prospect of American Music, he went back to Schidlowski, an ex temporary pupil of Schoenberg, with whom he analyzed the classical works of the Twentieth Century, and then to Vienna, searching for a vestige of the essential spring of the transcendental music of the century. It is there were he was exposed to the conducting school of Hans Swarowsky, and the first time conducting was an integral part of his needs as a musician. The search for a musical inner language had brought him to deeply study the architectural dimension of music and its innermost relation to the musical material and its expansion. This analytical conception could not, by any means, remain an intellectual process. It was necessary to bring the concepts to the conscience through performance, though; conducting became not just another tool at his disposal but a very necessary step which would permit the indispensable link between conception and perception. A fortunate encounter with Aldo Ceccato not only enabled him to work with him in Germany and Norway with the Norddeutsches Rundfunk Orchester, Hannover and the Musikselskabet Harmonien Orchestra, Bergen, but ultimately brought him to meet Ceccato’s teacher, Sergiu Celibidache, in whom he found a deep inspiration, both musically and intellectually, a profound and controversial personality, described in his own words as “… a Maestro, a teacher, a conductor … a musician who I greatly respect, towards whom I keep a healthy distance and great admiration …” During those years, along with his first professional engagements as a conductor, participated in many workshops and master classes with some of the most prominent musical personalities of its time: Berio, Pousseur, Boulez, Bernstein, Henze… In Israel, Mr. Shalom Ronly-Riklis, then assistant to the Music Director of The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra wrote in a letter dated March 3, 1985: “I have the pleasure of watching Elbert Lechtman Steinberg conduct various orchestras in Israel. I am convinced of his profound musicianship, and think very highly of his conducting ability, both in regard to technique and personal qualities. I also know that the musicians he conducted were very happy under his guidance and performances. In my opinion, Maestro Lechtman Steinberg would be an asset to any professional orchestra” It was Ronly-Riklis, the one who introduced him to Zubin Mehta, for whom he auditioned with The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and for whom he worked on many occasions preparing various orchestras in Israel during his absence. His extensive repertory, his ability to learn fast, combined with a profound musical responsibility and commitment, together with a rare fusion of humbleness and strictness, always seeking perfection, had brought him the love and respect of his colleges and the highest praise of public and critics. His unwillingness to compromise his musical principles had also brought him unavoidable difficulties, like when he had to leave the National Symphony of Costa Rica for political reasons, after a public polemic with a new young minister of culture, who found his programming too advanced. After living for some years in the United States, today he performs regularly with international acclaimed orchestras, Mostly in Europe, Israel and South America. (From Deutsche Schalplatten, Berlin, inner booklet of CD DS-1035-2, 1994 Dmitry Schostakowitsch: Symphonie No. 5 d-moll op. 47 and Suite aus der Oper Lady Macbeth von Mzensk op. 114a. Available at http://www.bayermusicgroup.de/artnr/ds1035.htm or listen at http://www.allmusic.com/ AMG Artist ID Q 54652) Contact Mr. Lechtman: consort.amadeus@gmail.com

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ELBERT LECHTMAN STEINBERG

LA MUSICA DE JULIO FONSECA

The Music of ELBERT LECHTMAN (B. 1959)

DATE OF BIRTH

7979 NW 21 STREET

No. SJO 916

TELEPHONES

FACSIMILE

E MAIL ADDRES

ACADEMIC EDUCATION

Tel Aviv University

Rubin Academy of Music

INSTRUMENTAL STUDIES: Violin

STUDIES IN INSTRUMENTAL CONDUCTING

Munich Philharmonc Orchestra

Munich, Germany

Maestro Sergiu Cellibidache 1982 - 1985

PROFESSIONAL TRAINNING

GUEST CONDUCTING


Label: Deutsche Schallplatten GmbH Berlin DSB Release year: 1994 Performers: BOHUSLAV MARTINU PHILAHARMONIE / ELBERT LECHTMAN STEINBERG - CONDUCTOR DMITRI SCHOSTAKOWITSCH (1906 – 1975) Symphonie No. 5 d-moll, op. 47 Suite aus der Oper Lady Macbeth van Mzensk, op. 114a Further information: Buy online: www.bayermusicgroup.de/artnr/ds1035.htm
LA MUSICA DE JULIO FONSECA Label: CBS Indica Release year: 1985 Performers: ORQUESTA SINFONICA NACIONAL DE COSTA RICA ELBERT LECHTMAN STEINBERG, CONDUCTOR JULIO FONSECA Suite Tropical Gran Fantasia Sinfonica Vals Leda Further information: Buy online:
The Music of ELBERT LECHTMAN (B. 1959) Label: Enharmonic Records Release year: 1982 Performers: Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, Jan Harrington-Conductor. Various Ensembles Various Artists Andres Cardenas, Violin James J. Pellerite, Flute LLANTO DE LOS HIJOS DE LA TIERRA (Por las Victimas de Nicaragua), 1979 YESOD, per flauto solo, 1980 CANTOS SIN TREGUA, per Coro Misto e Tenore Solo, 1980 Lirics by Alfonso Chase CONCERTO FOR SIX, ELEGIA, per violino solo, 1982 PENTAFLUXIS, 1982 Further information: Buy online:

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ELBERT LECHTMAN STEINBERG

LA MUSICA DE JULIO FONSECA

The Music of ELBERT LECHTMAN (B. 1959)

DATE OF BIRTH

7979 NW 21 STREET

No. SJO 916

TELEPHONES

FACSIMILE

E MAIL ADDRES

ACADEMIC EDUCATION

Tel Aviv University

Rubin Academy of Music

INSTRUMENTAL STUDIES: Violin

STUDIES IN INSTRUMENTAL CONDUCTING

Munich Philharmonc Orchestra

Munich, Germany

Maestro Sergiu Cellibidache 1982 - 1985

PROFESSIONAL TRAINNING

GUEST CONDUCTING