Menahem Avidom (Stanislaw, 1908 – Tel-Aviv, 1995, immigrated in 1935) was considered one of the most significant composers of his time. He initiated, chaired and supported, from 1955 to the end of his life, some of the most important music institutions in Israel, such as the Israel Composers’ League, ACUM (Israel Authors and Composers Association), and The Public Council for Culture and Art. A prolific composer and known public figure (also painter), he was awarded the 1961 Israel Prize for his Alexandra, the only acclaimed Israeli opera for several decades. He wrote almost 100 pieces, including ten symphonies, two cantatas and chamber music. One of several prominent composers who wrote arrangements for the unique Jewish-Yemenite artist and singer, Bracha Zefira, and based many of their compositions on Yemenite and Sephardi tunes she sang, he was one of the leaders of the Mediterranean style, expressed in his works such as his first three symphonies, A Folk Symphony (1945-1958), David (1949) and Mediterranean Symphony (1951).
Manahem Avidom