|
Mordechai Rechtman is a renowned bassoonist, conductor, arranger, teacher and educator. Together with his parents he left Germany in 1933 and came to Israel in 1934. Between 1946 and 1991 he was principal bassoonist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. He began playing the bassoon at the age of 12, and at 15 was accepted as member of the Palestine Opera Orchestra, where he played between 1941 and 1945. He was awarded first prize at the youth festival competition in Prague.
Mordechai Rechtman appeared as soloist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and other leading orchestras in Israel and abroad, and in music festivals, such as Tanglewood, Spoletto. Marlboro, Vermont and the Pablo Casals Music Festival in Puerto Rico. He founded the "Israel Woodwind Quintet" in 1963 and the Philharmonic Woodwind Ensemble in 1976. Since 1985 and for many years on, he was the musical director and conductor of the Israel Chamber Orchestra Wind Ensemble. Rechtman conducted many of Israel's major orchestras, such a the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO), Jerusalem Symphony, Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonietta Beer-Shiva, Israel Kibbutz Chamber Orchestra, Tel-Aviv Academy of Music Orchestra, Israel Camerata Orchestra Jerusalem and many other ensembles. He also conducted large wind ensembles and orchestras in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and throughout Europe.
While pursuing his career as a bassoonist, Mordechai Rechtman spent much time writing transcriptions and arrangements for wind quintet, wind instruments and large wind ensembles. His unique talent as an arranger was highly acclaimed. His arrangements, published by leading publishing houses, have been played by orchestras and major ensembles all over the world, and recorded in the USA, England, Denmark, Germany, and Austria.
In addition to that, Mordechai Rechtman dedicates much time to teaching. He began teaching when still a young bassoonist, in his early twenties, and since then taught generations of students. He also taught other wind instruments and guided varied chamber music ensembles. He was Professor at the Rubin Academy of Music of Tel-Aviv University since 1969 until 2002, and as Guest Professor taught in music schools such as the Juilliard School in New-York, the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, The Royal Academy of Music in London, and the Geneva Music Conservatory. During 1977 and 1978 he was Professor at the famous School of Music, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA.
Mordechai Rechtman was winner of the 2004 award of the Board of Trustees of the Minister of Education, Culture and Sports Prize of Music Performances for his special contribution to music in Israel. In August 1994, he was unanimously elected Honorary Membership of the IDRS. He also held the IM (International Master) title of the ICCF.
Mordechai Rechtman recorded his last 6 CD's with famous recording companies at the age of 75, and in 2006 at the age of 80, came out a DVD recording which demonstrated his unique system of playing the bassoon in all aspects. |
