Born in 1966 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Eli Tamar immigrated with his family to Israel in 1973. From 1997 he is a resident of the US.
Eli Tamar’s compositions have been recognized for their high emotional intensity and personal expression. His multi-cultural background has been a contributing factor in his ability to synthesize elements of different styles while transcending spiritual barriers between diverse musical, literary, and religious traditions.
"The choral score [of the Requiem] is austere. Despite the fact that it is based on a canonical Latin text, its archaic structure clearly points to something much further back than the traditions of Gregorian chorale: something Middle Eastern, ancient and profound can be heard. In the 14-part composition, only the tenth movement, Sanctus, unexpectedly surprises with its baroque lushness of vocalization and Vivaldian vigour, while the rest of the Requiem's palette is monochrome, focusing on grief and concentrated prayer. The composer dedicated his work to the victims of the last pandemic (the year of composition was 2021), so the minor colors in it not only prevail, but overwhelm all other moods." Aleksander Matusevich, magazine KULTURA, May 10, 2023. Original article here.
Tamar's sacred works were presented in such venues as Congress Graz Stefaniensaal in Austria; Moscow International House of Music, The Catholic Cathedral and Sobornaya Palata in Moscow; Zeglebiowsky International Organ Festival in Poland; St. Paul's Knightsbridge of London in the UK; American Church in Paris; Rachmaninov Hall at Moscow Conservatory; San Marcello al Corso in Rome; and St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh. Since 2021 many of his works have been featured in concerts of Lyrica Classic Entertainment Company (Washington, D.C.)
Eli Tamar’s compositions have been recognized for their high emotional intensity and personal expression. His multi-cultural background has been a contributing factor in his ability to synthesize elements of different styles while transcending spiritual barriers between diverse musical, literary, and religious traditions.
"The choral score [of the Requiem] is austere. Despite the fact that it is based on a canonical Latin text, its archaic structure clearly points to something much further back than the traditions of Gregorian chorale: something Middle Eastern, ancient and profound can be heard. In the 14-part composition, only the tenth movement, Sanctus, unexpectedly surprises with its baroque lushness of vocalization and Vivaldian vigour, while the rest of the Requiem's palette is monochrome, focusing on grief and concentrated prayer. The composer dedicated his work to the victims of the last pandemic (the year of composition was 2021), so the minor colors in it not only prevail, but overwhelm all other moods." Aleksander Matusevich, magazine KULTURA, May 10, 2023. Original article here.
Tamar's sacred works were presented in such venues as Congress Graz Stefaniensaal in Austria; Moscow International House of Music, The Catholic Cathedral and Sobornaya Palata in Moscow; Zeglebiowsky International Organ Festival in Poland; St. Paul's Knightsbridge of London in the UK; American Church in Paris; Rachmaninov Hall at Moscow Conservatory; San Marcello al Corso in Rome; and St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh. Since 2021 many of his works have been featured in concerts of Lyrica Classic Entertainment Company (Washington, D.C.)
Among his dedicatees are Metropolitan Opera and musicAeterna soloist Andrey Nemzer, the Bolshoi Theatre soloist Yekaterina Scherbachenko, Moscow State Philharmonia soloists Pavel Bykov and Svetlana Polianskaia, soprano Charlene Canty and bass Guenko Guechev.
Among other soloists-performers of his vocal works - Musikverein Vienna soloist mezzo-soprano Hermine Haselbock, Viener Staatsoper soloist soprano Elisabeta Marin, Moscow Great Hall soloist soprano Yulia Petrachuk, Hungarian State Opera House soloist mezzo-soprano Polina Shamaeva, and Tchaikovsky Concert Hall soloist soprano Natalia Pavlova.
Among the conductors he collaborated with are Sidney Harth, Arif Dadashev (Mariinsky Theatre), Walter Morales, Michael Kotelnikov, and Elmira Dadasheva.
Tamar's works were featured by Moscow Synodal Choir, Elysian Singers (London), Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, Duquesne Symphony Orchestra and Contemporary Ensemble, Russian “XX Century” chamber ensemble, Chrysalis Duo, Jerusalem Chamber Music Group, and Tel Aviv Young String Quartet among others. He composed for flutist Alberto Almarza and Lindsey Goodman, violinist Genaro Medina and Mark Daniel van Biemen (Concertgebouw Orchestra), cellists Felix Wang and Misha Quint.
In 2020 his “Lacrymae” for violin solo was featured in Altoona Symphony Orchestra Musician Spotlight Series. The composer’s instrumental music was presented at Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, Prism concerts in New York, U3 New Music Festival, Diaghilev Festival in Perm, Russia, Prokofiev Museum and Jurgensen Chamber Hall in Moscow, Pittsburgh Concert Society, as well as at numerous colleges in the U.S.
In 2016 Tamar's sacred works were released in the U.S. by Navona Records (Eli Tamar: Laudato Si).
In 2011 Eli Tamar co-produced American-Russian award-winning independent film “Leningrad”, for which he composed the soundtrack. The film received Russian Guild of Film Critics’ award at the International Film Festival "Spirit of Fire" (Russia) in 2014 and won the Grand Prix at the Yeysk Film Festival.
Eli Tamar earned his M.M. from Tel-Aviv University, and his Ph.D. in composition form the University of Pittsburgh. Between 2002-2011 Dr. Tamar served on the musicianship faculty of the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. His contribution to the American education system was recognized in "Who's Who Among American Teachers- Honoring Our Nation's Most Respected Teachers" (2006-2007).
In his youth Eli Tamar was a middle distance runner, a 10-time winner of Israeli national track and field championships and two time national boys and junior record holder (1500 m, 3000m). He participated in Juniors at the 13th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Lisbon, Portugal (1985)
Eli Tamar lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.
Among other soloists-performers of his vocal works - Musikverein Vienna soloist mezzo-soprano Hermine Haselbock, Viener Staatsoper soloist soprano Elisabeta Marin, Moscow Great Hall soloist soprano Yulia Petrachuk, Hungarian State Opera House soloist mezzo-soprano Polina Shamaeva, and Tchaikovsky Concert Hall soloist soprano Natalia Pavlova.
Among the conductors he collaborated with are Sidney Harth, Arif Dadashev (Mariinsky Theatre), Walter Morales, Michael Kotelnikov, and Elmira Dadasheva.
Tamar's works were featured by Moscow Synodal Choir, Elysian Singers (London), Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, Duquesne Symphony Orchestra and Contemporary Ensemble, Russian “XX Century” chamber ensemble, Chrysalis Duo, Jerusalem Chamber Music Group, and Tel Aviv Young String Quartet among others. He composed for flutist Alberto Almarza and Lindsey Goodman, violinist Genaro Medina and Mark Daniel van Biemen (Concertgebouw Orchestra), cellists Felix Wang and Misha Quint.
In 2020 his “Lacrymae” for violin solo was featured in Altoona Symphony Orchestra Musician Spotlight Series. The composer’s instrumental music was presented at Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, Prism concerts in New York, U3 New Music Festival, Diaghilev Festival in Perm, Russia, Prokofiev Museum and Jurgensen Chamber Hall in Moscow, Pittsburgh Concert Society, as well as at numerous colleges in the U.S.
In 2016 Tamar's sacred works were released in the U.S. by Navona Records (Eli Tamar: Laudato Si).
In 2011 Eli Tamar co-produced American-Russian award-winning independent film “Leningrad”, for which he composed the soundtrack. The film received Russian Guild of Film Critics’ award at the International Film Festival "Spirit of Fire" (Russia) in 2014 and won the Grand Prix at the Yeysk Film Festival.
Eli Tamar earned his M.M. from Tel-Aviv University, and his Ph.D. in composition form the University of Pittsburgh. Between 2002-2011 Dr. Tamar served on the musicianship faculty of the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. His contribution to the American education system was recognized in "Who's Who Among American Teachers- Honoring Our Nation's Most Respected Teachers" (2006-2007).
In his youth Eli Tamar was a middle distance runner, a 10-time winner of Israeli national track and field championships and two time national boys and junior record holder (1500 m, 3000m). He participated in Juniors at the 13th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Lisbon, Portugal (1985)
Eli Tamar lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.