Betty Olivero facts for kids

Betty Olivero (Hebrew: בטי אוליברו; born 16 May 1954) is an Israeli composer and music educator. She writes many different kinds of music.

About Betty Olivero

Betty Olivero was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. Her parents were Dora Kapon and Eli Olivero. She loved music from a young age.

Her Education and Early Career

Betty studied music at Tel Aviv University. She earned her first degree in music in 1978. She learned piano from Ilona Vincze-Kraus. She also studied how to compose music. Her teachers were Yizhak Sadai and Leon Schidlowsky.

After that, Betty went to Yale University in the United States. She continued her music studies there. She learned from famous composers like Jacob Druckman. She received her master's degree in music in 1981.

Betty then moved to Florence, Italy. She studied with Luciano Berio from 1983 to 1986. This helped her start her career as a composer in Europe.

Returning to Israel and Teaching

Betty Olivero married Raffaello Majoni and had two children. In 2002, she returned to Israel. She became a professor of composition at Bar-Ilan University. A few years later, in 2008, she received "tenure." This means she got a permanent teaching position. She was the first woman to become a composition professor at an Israeli university.

From 2004 to 2008, she also worked with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. She was their "composer-in-residence." This means she was the main composer for the orchestra during that time.

Her Music Around the World

Betty Olivero's music is played all over the world. Many famous orchestras and groups have performed her pieces. These include the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra have also played her music.

Awards and Recognitions

Betty Olivero has received many important awards for her music. Here are some of them:

• Leonard Bernstein scholarship
• Fromm Music Foundation Award (USA, 1986)
• Koussevitzky Award (USA, 2000)
• Prime Minister's Prize (Israel, 2001)
• Rosenblum Award for the Performing Arts (Israel, 2003)
• Landau Award for the Performing Arts (Israel, 2004)
• ACUM Prize for lifetime achievement (Israel, 2004)

Betty Olivero's Compositions

Betty Olivero writes music for many different groups. She composes for full orchestras, smaller groups called chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. She also writes music for singers.

Instrumental Music

Here are some of her pieces written mainly for instruments:

• Pan, for 5 flutes, 1984 (revised 1988)
• Batnun (Double Bass), for double bass and a small orchestra, 1985
• Presenze, for 10 instruments, 1986
• Ketarim (Crowns), for violin and orchestra, 1989
• Adagio, for chamber orchestra, 1990
• Tenuot, for orchestra, 1990 (revised 1999)
• Sofim (Endings), for piano, 1991
• Per Viola, for viola, 1993
• Mareot (Mirrors), for flute and violin, 1994
• Carosello, for string orchestra, percussion, and a children’s chamber orchestra, 1994
• Kavei-avir (A Volo d’Uccello, Air Lines), for 10 instruments, 1996
• Der Golem (Suites Nos. 1 and 2), for clarinet and string quartet, and for clarinet and string orchestra, 1997–1998
• Mizrach, for clarinet, string orchestra, and metal wind chimes, 1997
• Kavei-or (Light Lines), for orchestra, 1999
• Merkavot (Chariots) for orchestra, 1999
• Bashrav, for flute, clarinet, trumpet, percussion, piano/celeste, and string quartet, 2004
• Neharót Neharót (נהרות, נהרות) for solo viola, accordion, percussion, 2 string orchestras and tape, 2006–2007

Vocal Music

These are some of her pieces that include singing:

• Cantes Amargos, for female voice and chamber orchestra, 1984
• Makamat, 5 Middle-Eastern folk songs for female voice and 9 instruments, 1988
• Behind the Wall, for puppet theatre, Mezzo-soprano, and 8 instruments, 1989
• Juego de Siempre (The Never-Ending Game), 12 folk songs in Ladino, for female voice (alto) and chamber orchestra or 7 instruments, 1991 (revised 1994)
• Bakashot (Supplications), for clarinet, choir, and orchestra, 1996
• Masken, for Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Baritone/narrator, violin, viola, cello, piano, and percussion, 1999
• Achot ketana (Little Sister), for Soprano, 3 solo violins, string orchestra, and clarinet, 2000
• Hosha’anot, for soprano and orchestra, 2000 (revised 2003)
• Serafim (Angels), for Soprano, violin, clarinet, cello, and piano, 2002
• Zimaar, for Soprano, 2 violins, cello, harpsichord, and percussion, 2003
• L’Ombra che porta il sogno (The Shadow That Brings Dreams), 2005

Recordings of Her Music

Many of Betty Olivero's works have been recorded and released on CDs. Here are some of them:

• Cantigas Sephardies, Folkways Records, 1985
• Makamat, CD- Ricordi, 1989
• Juego de Siempre, Beth Hatefutsoth Museum, Tel Aviv, 1991
• Shtiler, Shtiler; Mode ani for Clarinet, Mezzo-Soprano and mixed choir, Pläne 1995
• Bakashot, Koch-Schwann, 1996
• Der Golem: Suite No. 1, and Der Golem: 6 Yidishe Lieder un Tantz for Clarinet and String Quartet, Pläne 1997
• Mizrach, Pläne, 1998
• Achot ketana, Angel, 2001
• Sofim, (Israeli Music Center, ACUM), 2003