Na'ama Zisser

Na'ama Zisser is a London-based Israeli composer.

Na'ama Zisser
OriginIsrael
Genres
Occupation(s)Composer
Websitewww.naamazisser.com

Her work is visually driven and often collaborative with other art forms, with a focus on opera, contemporary dance, moving image, installations, staged performances, and instrumental music.[1] Her practice involves the use of both electronic and acoustic mediums. Her music is concerned with intonation, textures, intimacy, and nostalgia, and has been described as ‘free of cliches’ (The Guardian)[2] and ‘hauntingly melodic’ (The Stage).[3] She is the first to introduce cantorial music into contemporary opera.[4][5] She is currently based in London.[6]

Early life and education

Zisser was born and raised in Bnei-Brak, Israel in an ultra-orthodox background. The fourth of five siblings, she began her classical music education at the age of six, playing piano. She left high school to focus on music, and continued to play the instrument as part of her compulsory military service as a pianist and arranger at the Air Force Orchestra.[7] Upon completing her service, she went on to study composition at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, before moving to London to study at the Royal College of Music with Mark-Anthony Turnage where she won the Hurlston & Cobbett Prize.[8][9] She completed her doctorate at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama exploring the relationship between Orthodox Jewish Cantorial singing and Opera, under the supervision of Julian Philips.[10]

Musical career

Between 2015 and 2018, Na'ama Zisser was the doctoral composer in residence at the Royal Opera House and made her debut with the opera company with Mamzer/Bastard in the 2018 season.[9][11][4] The newly commissioned opera was the first to feature and reference Orthodox-Jewish Cantorial music with a role written for a Cantor. Directed by Jay Scheib and conducted by Jessica Cottis, the opera premiered at the Hackney Empire to sold-out shows.[12]

Na’ama Zisser has been commissioned by and worked with such ensembles and organisations as: London Symphony Orchestra,[13] London Contemporary Orchestra,[14] London Sinfonietta,[15] Aurora Orchestra,[16] CHROMA ensemble,[17][18] Royal Opera House,[1] National Opera Studio,[19] Tête à Tête,[20] Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra,[21] Israeli Contemporary Players[22] and Ujazdowski Centre for Contemporary Art.

She has held residencies and fellowships with Sound & Music,[23] East London Dance,[24] Britten–Pears Artist Programme, Classical Next fellowship[25] Rabbit Island Foundation & Rozsa Centre for Performing Arts,[26][27] and LSO Soundhub residency, where she composed a piece for chamber ensemble, live visuals and karaoke singers.[28] Her work has been supported by the Arts Council, Jerwood Arts[29] and PRS,[25] as well as broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and online radio station NTS.[30][20][31] Zisser's music has been performed internationally across Europe, America and Israel.[32][33][34][35]

In 2022, Zisser scored the first season of BBC radio 4's new horror audio anthology, LUSUS, which starred Ncuti Gatwa, Alistair Petrie and Morfydd Clark.[30]

Notable works

Chamber
  • Drowned In C (2015) for chamber ensemble (commissioned by the London Sinfonietta) [36]
  • Empty Orchestra (2015) for chamber ensemble, live visuals and karaoke singers (commissioned by London Symphony Orchestra Soundhub) [37][38]
  • Kara-Oke II (2016) for chamber ensemble, live visuals and karaoke singers (commissioned by London Symphony Orchestra Soundhub) [39]

Orchestra
  • Island Mantras (2019) for symphonic orchestra (commissioned by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra) [8'] [40]
  • Trismus (2022) for chamber orchestra (commissioned by the Israel contemporary Players) [41]

Opera
  • Sandman (2012) (Guildhall School of Music and Drama)[42]
  • Black Sand (2013) (Tete a Tete and Grimeborn festivals)[43][44]
  • The last seed (2016) for six countertenors and chamber ensemble (commissioned by Tete a Tete)[45]
  • Mamzer/Bastard (2018) (commissioned by the Royal Opera House)[46]

Vocal
  • Lovesick (2018) for baritone and piano quartet (commissioned by YIVO)[47]
  • SCRUM (2018) for solo Baritone and piano (commissioned by the National Opera Studio)[48]
  • Beloved visitors (2020) for solo Baritone and piano quartet (commissioned by Manchester Jewish Museaum)[49][50]

Solo
  • No Hay Banda (2017) for solo guitar (commissioned by the International Guitar Foundation)[51][52]

Other
  • Anchorage (2021) - chamber ensemble composition for Contemporary Dance (choreographer: Yoshito Sakuraba, Abarukas Dance) (commissioned by the Rozsa Centre and Rabbit Island Foundation)[53][54]
  • What Will Survive of Us (2020) - six channel surround-sound installation 5.1 (Artist: Ursula Mayer) (commissioned by Ujazdowski Centre for Contemporary Art)[55]
  • Lusus (2022) - music for the audio horror anthology series (commissioned by BBC radio 4)[56]

References
  1. "Na'ama Zisser — People — Royal Opera House". www.roh.org.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  2. "'We've got to open minds': meet the composers reshaping opera". the Guardian. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  3. "Mamzer Bastard review, Hackney Empire, London, 2018". The Stage. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  4. "Mamzer Bastard – Productions – Royal Opera House". www.roh.org.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  5. Ashley, Tim (15 June 2018). "Mamzer Bastard review – haunting Hasidic opera illuminates '77 New York blackout". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  6. "Classical:Next 2017: Na'ama Zisser – PRS for Music Foundation". PRS for Music Foundation. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  7. Giovetti, Olivia (14 June 2018). "Uncanny Songs". VAN Magazine. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  8. Johnson, Jo. "London Symphony Orchestra – Na'ama Zisser". lso.co.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  9. "Na'ama Zisser – People – Royal Opera House". www.roh.org.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  10. "Interview with Na'ama Zisser, Doctoral Composer-in-Residence". Guildhall School of Music & Drama. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  11. Willson, Flora (8 June 2018). "'We've got to open minds': meet the composers reshaping opera". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  12. "Mamzer | Bastard". Hackney Empire. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  13. "London Symphony Orchestra - Na'ama Zisser". lso.co.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  14. "London Symphony Orchestra - BBC Radio 3 Open Ear". lso.co.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  15. "In C, London Sinfonietta, Kings Place". theartsdesk.com. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  16. "Mamzer Bastard". Aurora Orchestra. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  17. "About". CHROMA. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  18. "Time to say goodbye: Moonlight /The Last Seed". bachtrack.com. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  19. "12:40 - Twelve new opera arias for the National Opera Studio's 40th Anniversary". National Opera Studio. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  20. "BBC Radio 3 - Hear and Now, Open Ear - cutting-edge new music performed in the round". BBC. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  21. "שירת דבורה". www.imi.org.il. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  22. "03_Discoveries Concert". Ensemble 21. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  23. "Na'ama Zisser". British Music Collection. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  24. "Street Stories: Dance Collaborations | East London Dance". www.eastlondondance.org. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  25. "Na'ama Zisser: International Showcase Fund". PRS for Music Foundation. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  26. Island, Rabbit. "Na'ama Zisser". Rabbit Island. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  27. "Rozsa Center, Rabbit Island Foundation present world premiere of performance inspired by the Keweenaw". miningjournal.net. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  28. "London Symphony Orchestra - Soundhub Showcase". lso.co.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  29. "Na'ama Zisser – Jerwood Arts". Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  30. "BBC Radio 4 - Lusus, 1. Doppelgänger". BBC. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  31. Radio, N. T. S. "S K Y A P N E A w/ Oliver Coates 28th February 2015". NTS Radio. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  32. "Ursula Mayer – Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art". – Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  33. Wild, Stephi. "San Antonio Symphony Announces 2020-21 Classical Season". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  34. "Songs About "The Song of Songs" at YIVO". Feast of Music. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  35. "תגליות 3". ensamble21.tagonet-ltd.com (in Hebrew). Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  36. "Drowned In C". British Music Collection. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  37. "Empty Orchestra (kara – oke)". British Music Collection. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  38. Empty Orchestra (kara-oke) - Na'ama Zisser LSO Soundhub @ St. Luke's, retrieved 11 August 2022
  39. Na'ama Zisser - Kara-oke Vol II, retrieved 11 August 2022
  40. "Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto". www.americantowns.com. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  41. "03_Discoveries Concert". Ensemble 21. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  42. "The Sandman". www.stuartbarker.com. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  43. "Black Sand". British Music Collection. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  44. "GRIMEBORN: Black Sand". Time Out London. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  45. "Time to say goodbye: Moonlight /The Last Seed". bachtrack.com (in German). Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  46. "Mamzer | Bastard". Hackney Empire. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  47. "Songs About "The Song of Songs" at YIVO". Feast of Music. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  48. "12:40 - Twelve new opera arias for the National Opera Studio's 40th Anniversary". National Opera Studio. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  49. "Opera". Peter Brathwaite. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  50. Thomason, Carmel (3 March 2020). "Songs of Arrival stories of Jewish refugees in Manchester". Quays Life. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  51. admin. "IGF Commissions List". International Guitar Foundation & Festivals. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  52. "Young Artist Platform • Contemporary • Kings Place". Kings Place. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  53. "The Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts and Rabbit Island Foundation present a world premiere inspired by the Keweenaw". mininggazette.com. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  54. University, Michigan Technological. "Anchorage World Premiere". Michigan Tech Events Calendar. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  55. "Ursula Mayer - What Will Survive of Us: Modelle einer fluiden Zukunft". www.artmagazine.cc. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  56. "Lusus". Spotify. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
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