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Wednesday, April 7th, 1999
Ori Kam and Ilan Rechtman: A Viola Soloist, and a Bernsteinian Pianist.
"Mr. Kam presented an impressive recital on Sunday"
"Mr. Kam luxuriates in the viola's dusky, warm tone..."
"...his musical integrity was consistently rewarding."
"Mr. Kam's playing at once mature and youthfully exuberant. He is an attractive, engaging presence onstage"
Violist Ori Kam played Hindemith's Sonata Op. 11 No. 4 with great warmth and freedom. Born in America but raised in Israel, he is an excellent performer with natural poise and charm; his fine technique and lovely, dark tone are entirely at the service of the music. He was presented by the Daniel Kuhn Foundation and partnered with strong, friendly rapport by a fellow Israeli, pianist composer Ilan Rechtman. Schubert's "Arpeggione" Sonata was overly inflected and effusive, but Brahms' Sonata No. 1 was somber, austere, and beautifully Romantic.
May, 2011
My Hero
My teacher Chaim Taub, the former concertmaster of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, was a real inspiration to me. I recently sat in his living room and listened to stories of his childhood in what was then Palestine under the British mandate. He spoke of sneaking into concerts to hear the Palestine Symphony Orchestra to see Arturo Toscanini conduct, and of his teachers, some of that ages's greatest musicians who had fled Facism in Europe. Later on, determined to enroll at the Juilliard School, he travelled to New York on a US military ship carrying troops returning home after the Second World War. He hadn't registered or auditioned, he just showed up one day and demanded to join Ivan Galamian's class. He was admitted and finished his studies there.
Chaim was a very demanding teacher, but his criticism was always constructive. He taught me the language of music and how to interpret it. Well into his 80's today, he is still at it in full force. I wish him, and us, many more musical years to come.
Thursday, October 15th, 1999
He's a violist and he's proud of it
"Like every good Jewish boy, Ori Kam started to play the violin, then gradually shifting to the viola..."
October 26, 1999
The night belongs to Ori Kam
Bela Bartok left only outlines for his viola concerto, but the piece, which was constructed from these outlines is very beautiful and allows the sloloist to display both virtuosity and expression. Ori Kam, 24 years old, replaced Nabuko Imai, but stole the show. If we have such a violist in Israel, why look elsewhere? From the first contact of his bow on the string a broad, penetrating and pleasant sound eminated. I expected, naively, that the audience would demand to hear the final movement again, but alas I was disappointed.
October 26, 1999
The Light at the end of the tunnel:
Season opening concert of the Israel Symphony Orchestra. Heichal Hatarbut Rishon Lezion, conducted by Mendi Rodan
Ori Kam stands on stage, a young 24 year-old Israeli, and is performing Bartok's wonderful viola concerto with astonishing maturity. I sit in disbelief: his Bartok transcends into a hymn for poetics, refinment, and personal expression. Fantastic.
Talent simply eminates from his every pore. It's not just his virtuosity, but the warmth of his playing. If only for this young discovery, the entire concert was worth it. And indeed, last night Ori was the light at the end of the tunnel.
Tuesday, November 21st, 1995
Amazing Duo with Brilliant Violist
Ori Kam and Liran Avni (piano) playing in Rüdesheim
"Together with his wonderful accompanist, he executed this composition from Hindemith's "rebellious" period with an elastic profile, alternating between boisterous expressivity, and hammering ostinato rhythm - a remarkable performance."
"Ori Kam played with a soft velvety sound, astonishing control, and elegant bow technique. One could enjoy the sound-soaked Musicianship, which navigated between the virtuosic and most intimate of moments, all with flawless intonation even in the hardest of passages."
