Bar-Illan, David (Jacob)

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Bar-Illan, David (Jacob)

Bar-Illan, David (Jacob), Israeli pianist; b. Haifa, Feb. 7, 1930. He studied at the Haifa Music Inst., and then in N.Y. at the Juilliard School of Music and the Mannes Coll. of Music. In 1946 he made his debut as a soloist with the Palestine Broadcasting Service Orch. After an engagement at London’s Wigmore Hall in 1953, he played in the U.S. in 1954. Thereafter he appeared as a soloist with orchs. and as a recitalist in Israel, Europe, and North and South America. From 1980 to 1991 he taught at the Mannes Coll. of Music. During the administration of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (1996–99), he served as a spokesman in the prime minister’s office. As a pianist, Bar-Illan became particularly well known for his performances of the 19th century repertoire.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire