CANTATA BY STRAVINSKY
Cool Premiere In Jerusalem Stravinsky’s cantata ‘‘Abraham and Isaac” received tepid applause after its world premiere in Jerusalem on August 23, but the appearance of the 82-year-old composer on the stage to take his bow drew a prolonged standing ovation. The cool reception of the work had been forecast by the composer, who told a correspondent of "The Times” that It would be difficult to understand. Robert Craft conducted, and an ensemble from the Israel festival with Ephraim Biran, baritone, performed it. The baritone narrates 20 verses of Genesis relating how God tested Abraham by ordering him to sacrifice Isaac. The music, written in serial form, employs strings and woodwind, and some brass is used sparingly, but there are no percussion instruments.
Mr Stravinsky, who acknowledged that the only Hebrew word he knew was “Shalom,” studied the biblical passage syllable by syllable with scholars and composed the work accordingly.
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Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30540, 8 September 1964, Page 8
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152CANTATA BY STRAVINSKY Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30540, 8 September 1964, Page 8
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