Dina Smorgonskaya: Piano Trio ‘Dedication’

June 8, 2022 / ISCM – ISRAELI SECTION

Dina Smorgonskaya (b. 1947) is one of Israel’s most prominent composers. Originally from Vitebsk, Belarus, which was then part of the USSR, Smorgonskaya emigrated to Israel in 1989 bringing with her a mastery of a broad spectrum of styles and genres, together with her own music personality – both featuring the rich artistic tradition of St. Petersburg, whose school she proudly represents. Her major works from her Russian period include Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra (1980) and the ballet suite Peter Pan and Wendy for woodwinds and strings (1987), as well as song cycles on poems by Russian poets, film and incidental music. During a period of almost three decades since her arrival in Israel, she has written several major works, including a chamber opera The Stationmaster (1999, after Pushkin’s story), Concerto for Piano and Strings (1999), Triptych for clarinet, violin and piano(1997, plus additional versions for other ensembles 2002, 2003), Pentastych – five poems in five languages for soprano and piano (1995), and Spanish Lace, a suite for strings based on Ladino songs (2011). Finding an appreciative audience in her new/ancient homeland, Dina Smorgonskaya was awarded the Prime Minister’s Prize for Composers in 2005. Greatly valued also in Russia, her music is still performed there, as well as in the USA, Canada, and other countries.

Smorgonskaya’s Piano Trio “Dedication” was commissioned by the Alexander Trio (Nitai Zori, violin; Ella Toovy, cello; and Michal Tal, piano). It was first performed at the Israeli Music Festival in Jerusalem in 2019. Since then, it has been performed at other concert venues.