(IsraelNN.com) Colonel (res.) Yitzhak (Ziko) Graziani, 79, passed away early this morning from a terminal illness. Graziani has been the chief conductor of the IDF Orchestra since 1962.
In addition to his position with the IDF Orchestra, Yitzhak Graziani was a guest conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Haifa Symphony, the Jerusalem Symphony, and of the Olympia Theater in Paris. He arranged over 1000 Israeli songs and compositions for band, and composed music for several theatrical productions and movies. He directed numerous musical productions in the theaters, opera, and for many of Israel's leading folk and popular singers, and also served as musical director for programs of the Israel Broadcast Authority, including the Israel Song Festival and Children’s Song Festival.
Yitzhak Graziani was born in Bulgaria in 1924 and was a graduate of the Sofia Music Academy. He made aliyah to Israel with his family in 1948 and, shortly thereafter, he was invited to play trumpet in the IDF Orchestra. He was released from the army in 1952, but for ten years he continued to write and arrange music for the IDF as a reservist, finally being selected as the IDF’s chief conductor.
In addition to his position with the IDF Orchestra, Yitzhak Graziani was a guest conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Haifa Symphony, the Jerusalem Symphony, and of the Olympia Theater in Paris. He arranged over 1000 Israeli songs and compositions for band, and composed music for several theatrical productions and movies. He directed numerous musical productions in the theaters, opera, and for many of Israel's leading folk and popular singers, and also served as musical director for programs of the Israel Broadcast Authority, including the Israel Song Festival and Children’s Song Festival.
Yitzhak Graziani was born in Bulgaria in 1924 and was a graduate of the Sofia Music Academy. He made aliyah to Israel with his family in 1948 and, shortly thereafter, he was invited to play trumpet in the IDF Orchestra. He was released from the army in 1952, but for ten years he continued to write and arrange music for the IDF as a reservist, finally being selected as the IDF’s chief conductor.