Gary Bertini

Gary Bertini was an Israeli conductor and composer who was born Shloyme Golergant in 1927 in Bricheva, Bessarabia. He studied in Tel Aviv, Milan, and at the Paris Conservatoire under instructors including Olivier Messiaen and Nadia Boulanger. After returning to Israel, Bertini founded the Rinat chamber choir in 1955 and established the Israel Chamber Orchestra in 1965, serving as its conductor until 1975. He was the principal guest conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra from 1971 to 1981. He directed the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra between 1978 and 1986 and served as the artistic director of the Israeli Opera. Bertini’s recordings include a complete cycle of the symphonies of Gustav Mahler. He died on March 17, 2005.