Biography
Cellist Ofra Harnoy has balanced appearances on popular music projects with engagements in the classical concerto and chamber domains. Her international performances have encompassed recitals for U.S. President Bill Clinton, three Canadian prime ministers, the imperial Japanese family on several occasions, and a command performance for Prince, later King, Charles of England.
Born January 31, 1965, in Hadera, Israel, Harnoy received her initial instruction from her father, Jacob Harnoy, a record producer, collector, and violinist. Rapid advancement followed under Vladimir Orloff, culminating in a Toronto debut at age ten. At fourteen she received an invitation to Britain’s Aldeburgh Festival, where she encountered her idol, cellist Jacqueline Du Pré. Subsequent studies took place with Du Pré herself, William Pleeth, Pierre Fournier, and Mstislav Rostropovich.
Musical America designated her Young Musician of the Year in 1983; the next year she made her first recording, the album Beatles by 5. Later collaborations included Sting, Loreena McKennitt, and the eclectic guitarist Jesse Cook. Her initial classical release appeared in 1988 on the ProArte label under the title An Evening with Ofra Harnoy. That same year she issued her debut RCA album with pianist Michael Dussek, presenting Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata, D. 821, and Prokofiev’s Violin Sonata, Op. 119.
Fifteen RCA albums followed through 1999, several of which received Juno awards from the Canadian recording industry. These discs surveyed encore literature and virtuoso showpieces while spotlighting lesser-known compositions by Offenbach, Viotti, Myslivecek, and Lalo; she also introduced numerous previously unrecorded Vivaldi cello works. Upon the conclusion of her RCA contract—an event coinciding with the end of her professional relationship with her father, who had managed her career—new recordings became infrequent. Harnoy nevertheless maintained an active schedule of performances and teaching, while earlier recordings continued to circulate in reissues.
She resumed studio work in 2019 with Back to Bach on the Analekta label. In 2023 she joined Sony Classical for a recording of the cello concertos by Elgar and Lalo. Harnoy was named to the Order of Canada in 1995.
Born January 31, 1965, in Hadera, Israel, Harnoy received her initial instruction from her father, Jacob Harnoy, a record producer, collector, and violinist. Rapid advancement followed under Vladimir Orloff, culminating in a Toronto debut at age ten. At fourteen she received an invitation to Britain’s Aldeburgh Festival, where she encountered her idol, cellist Jacqueline Du Pré. Subsequent studies took place with Du Pré herself, William Pleeth, Pierre Fournier, and Mstislav Rostropovich.
Musical America designated her Young Musician of the Year in 1983; the next year she made her first recording, the album Beatles by 5. Later collaborations included Sting, Loreena McKennitt, and the eclectic guitarist Jesse Cook. Her initial classical release appeared in 1988 on the ProArte label under the title An Evening with Ofra Harnoy. That same year she issued her debut RCA album with pianist Michael Dussek, presenting Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata, D. 821, and Prokofiev’s Violin Sonata, Op. 119.
Fifteen RCA albums followed through 1999, several of which received Juno awards from the Canadian recording industry. These discs surveyed encore literature and virtuoso showpieces while spotlighting lesser-known compositions by Offenbach, Viotti, Myslivecek, and Lalo; she also introduced numerous previously unrecorded Vivaldi cello works. Upon the conclusion of her RCA contract—an event coinciding with the end of her professional relationship with her father, who had managed her career—new recordings became infrequent. Harnoy nevertheless maintained an active schedule of performances and teaching, while earlier recordings continued to circulate in reissues.
She resumed studio work in 2019 with Back to Bach on the Analekta label. In 2023 she joined Sony Classical for a recording of the cello concertos by Elgar and Lalo. Harnoy was named to the Order of Canada in 1995.
Albums
Elgar & Lalo Cello Concertos
2023
On The Rock
2020
Back to Bach
2019
Offenbach: Concerto Militaire - Lalo: Cello Concerto
2019
Ofra Harnoy & Friends
2017
Ofra Harnoy, Vol. 1: Offenbach, Tchaikovsky & Saint-Saëns
2017
Schubert - String Quartet In C
2013
Ofra Harnoy: Bach to Offenbach
1997
Gershwin: Summertime
1996
Singles
