YOHANAN CINNAMON
COMPOSER
—PRESS & MEDIA—
THE ARTIST
Yohanan Cinnamon is a contemporary light classical composer with a six-album catalogue. His works have been recorded by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and London Brass, and include arrangements by Israel Edelson, former assistant to Leonard Bernstein. His focus on clear, melodic structures makes his classical pieces highly engaging for both lifelong purists and casual listeners.
BIOGRAPHY
Yohanan Cinnamon is a London-born composer whose lyrical, melodic works have been recorded by ensembles including the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and London Brass. Based in Jerusalem, his music combines the accessibility of the light classical tradition with a deeply personal musical voice.
Although music was an early passion, Yohanan's path to composition was anything but conventional. After settling in Israel, he devoted many years to the study of Torah and Talmud, a pursuit that continues alongside his work as a composer and teacher.
Encouraged by the late composer André Hajdu, Yohanan returned to composition with renewed purpose, developing a long-standing creative partnership with arranger and conductor Israel Edelson. Together they have produced a body of work ranging from intimate chamber music to richly orchestrated concert pieces performed by internationally respected ensembles.
CREATIVE COLLABORATION
For many years, Israel Edelson has been Yohanan Cinnamon's principal musical collaborator. Working closely together, Yohanan develops the melodic and artistic foundations of each composition, while Israel realises those ideas through arrangements for solo piano, chamber ensembles and full orchestra.
Born in Leningrad, Israel Edelson began studying music at the age of five before immigrating to Israel at fifteen. He graduated from the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, studying conducting and composition, and later continued his training in Europe with Sergiu Celibidache and Franco Ferrara. At Tanglewood in the United States, he was personally selected by Leonard Bernstein as a student and later invited to assist him in concerts around the world.
An internationally recognised conductor, Israel won first prize at the BBC Rupert International Young Conductors' Competition and has conducted major orchestras throughout Europe, Great Britain and Israel. Alongside his own work as a composer and arranger, he continues his close artistic partnership with Yohanan. Their collaborations include Romantic Suite, recorded with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Their most recent album, Colour My Heart, was released earlier this year.
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Planet Hugill - A World of Classical Music
– Robert Hugill
Cinnamon has a clear melodic talent and has produced a charming disc of attractively melodic pieces.