Uzi Shalev (; born 3 July 1961) is an Israeli bassoonist. Since 1987, he has been the assistant principal bassoonist for the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO).
Early life Shalev was born on 3 July 1961 in a kibbutz in Ein Dor, Israel, the son of Rafi and Ahuva Shalev.
He studied the bassoon with Sara Tzur, Zeev Dorman, Walter Meroz and Mordechai Rechtman. Upon completion of his regular military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as an officer, he continued his studies at the Juilliard School in New York.
Career Since 1987, Shalev has been the assistant principal bassoonist of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO).
As first chair bassoonist with the IPO, Shalev has toured many major cities in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia, under the baton of maestros Zubin Mehta, Lorin Maazel, Kurt Mazur, Gustavo Dudamel and Lahav Shani, and other conductors.
Shalev is an active musician who appears regularly with various chamber ensembles and performs as soloist with orchestras, including the IPO.
Solo performances with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Shalev's solo performances with the IPO have included George Philip Telemann's Double Concerto for Flute and Bassoon (1990), Joseph Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante (1998) and Aharon Harlap's Bassoon Concerto (2005), which was composed for and dedicated to Shalev. For this world premiere of Harlap's Concerto, Shalev won the Ödön Pártos Prize from Israel's Minister of Culture, Science and Sports for "best performance of an Israeli composition".
Premieres Shalev has commissioned and premiered numerous compositions by distinguished Israeli composers, among them, Yehezkel Braun, Theodore Holdhaim, Ben-Zion Orgad, Tzvi Avni, Aharon Harlap, Arie Shapira, Ronn Yedidia, Tamar Muskal, Amit Poznansky, Eyal Bat, Ayala Asherov, Boris Pigovat, Moshe Zorman, and others. The bassoonist and arranger Mordechai Rechtman has also dedicated a few of his arrangements to Shalev.
Discography Shalev has recorded for radio, television and compact discs. His compact discs include the following: +Release yearTitleComposerLabelPersonnel / Notes1993Flute SonatasGeorg Philipp TelemannMeridian CDE 84231With flautist Yossi Arnheim; won the English Music Retailers Prize for Best Chamber CD of 19931998Bassoon Concerto in E-Flat Major Johann Christian BachMeridian CDE 84359With the Capella Istropolitana of Bratislava and Yossi Arnheim2012"The Phoenix"Yehezkel BraunRomeo 7291/2Together with flautist Lior Eitan and pianist Rotem Luz2015Four flute quartetsWolfgang Amadeus MozartMeridian CDE 84637July 2015; arranged for bassoon and string trio by Mordechai Rechtman; released in the UK
References
External links
Uzi Shalev at the IPO site Merav Yudilevich, Winners of Ödön Pártos Prize 2005 declared, 15 March 2006, Ynet Noam Ben-Zeev, On "The Phoenix" Yehezkel Braun's new album, 21 February 2013, Haaretz Profile of an IPO musician – Uzi Shalev Yossi Schiffman On Aharon Harlap's Bassoon concerto, 18 January 2005, Habama Israel culture portal Faces of keynote - Uzi Shalev Interview with Uzi Shalev, Assistant Principal Bassoon: Part 1 Interview with Uzi Shalev, Assistant Principal Bassoon: Part 2