Rechtman Mordechai

Mordechai Rechtman (b. 1926) is an Israeli bassoonist, conductor, educator, and arranger. Born in Wuppertal, Germany, he emigrated with his parents in 1933. He began playing the bassoon at age 12 and began his professional career three years later, playing principal bassoon with the Palestine (now Israel) Opera. He was awarded first prize at the 1947 Prague Festival, and from 1946 to 1991 he was principal bassoon with the Israel Philharmonic. He has appeared as soloist with the IPO and other leading orchestras in Israel and abroad. While pursuing his career as bassoonist, Rechtman spent much time writing transcriptions and arrangements for wind quintet, wind instruments, and large wind ensembles. His unique talent as an arranger has been highly acclaimed, and his arrangements for wind ensembles are performed throughout the world. In 2014 he began arranging late Classical and Romantic concerti for chamber ensembles, published by his own company, Rechtman Concerto Reductions. From 1985 to 1991, Rechtman served as music director and conductor of the Israel Chamber Orchestra Wind Ensemble. A founding member of the Israel Woodwind Quintet, Rechtman has recorded for several labels. From 1977 to 1978 he was guest professor at Indiana University School of Music, and from 1968-2002 was professor of music at the Rubin Academy of Tel Aviv University. As a guest professor, he has taught bassoon, coached chamber music, and conducted orchestras and wind ensembles at various institutions in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Europe. Mordechai Rechtman is the winner of the 2004 award of the Board of Trustees of the Minister of Education, Culture, and Sports Prize of Music Performances for his special contribution to music in Israel.