Roit Feldenkreis, an Israeli orchestra conductor and soprano singer, led the Symphony Orchestra of the National Congress of Paraguay – an unusual sight for the world of music.
The repertoire that Maestra Roit Feldenkreis conducted at the Municipal Theatre Ignacio A. Pane in Paraguay included Robert Schumman’s Symphony No. 2, Op. 61; the overture to The Magical Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Carl Nielsen’s concerto for flute and orchestra, for which flute soloist Adriana Aquino Navarro was invited to play.
How was your visit to Paraguay made possible?
As a conductor, I keep contact with orchestras all over the world and I regularly send them my CV, a summary of my performances on video, etc. Not so long ago, I was conducting in Montevideo and Maestro Diego Sánchez Haase saw my work. He liked it and he contacted me.
Did you know anything about Paraguay? What is your impression?
I knew nothing, really. Only where it was on the map. I only spent a few days in Asuncion, but I liked it because the city struck me as relaxed, very calm, very beautiful. I also had the chance to visit a few historical sites.
Your work has taken you to many countries…
I have been singing since I was a child, and this has given me the opportunity to travel the world a lot, that is, together with some orchestra members. I actually like to travel, to discover other cultures. South America seems very comfortable, its people is warm, friendly, much like my country’s, perhaps even better (she chuckles). South Americans are filled with passion for music and I was able to confirm this when interacting with the members of the [National Congress] orchestra.
Do you prefer to sing or to conduct?
I am a singer, but I rarely ever sing nowadays as I have no time for that. At the moment, the most important thing for me is to conduct, because I like to see the bigger picture. When I sing by myself I focus on a very narrow activity. However, singing is a passion, something I want to reinforce because I fear I might lose it.
How do you struggle with leaving your family and your country for a while?
It is very hard for me – I have three children, and the youngest is only two years old. When I first started it was even harder, I was constantly asked to conduct. Fortunately, my husband is very comprehensive, he is aware that I have to travel and he helps me a lot. As for my kids, I believe they understand that Mom is happy doing what she does. When they grow up they will have my example – someone who pursued her dreams. That is the best legacy I can leave for my kids.
Who are your favorite composers?
Schumann’s Symphony No. 2 [which was part of her repertoire in Paraguay] is one of his best works. It was composed when he was going through difficult times, both physically and emotionally. Through this symphony he had some sort of resurrection. It is my favorite piece, because I love the Romantic period. More specifically, this work has depth and strong sentiments; it has joy and bliss on the one hand, but it also has a great deal of sadness. It’s very complex. Schumann’s work is somewhat similar to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and Symphony No. 9. All three works are made up of four movements and eventually reach an emotive and grandiose finale.
Any contemporary composers?
I like the work of Carl Nielsen, a Danish composer that lived in the 20th century. I did not know him before arriving in here, so I had to study a lot about him and his music. Nielsen’s work contains many of Schumann’s emotions – it evokes both paradise and hell, happiness and sorrow. The two corpora are very different.
What is music to you?
I believe that for me it is everything, on a personal and on a national note; it heals me. I focus on the good aspects of my life, of my family, my friends and my country; naturally, I think music connects all human beings.
How hard is it to be a woman conducting orchestras in a job that is mostly considered fitting for men?
I think that for my generation is not as hard as it used to be, because there were women before me who worked very hard in order to expand our possibilities. Nowadays, a female conductor is perceived as an ordinary phenomenon.
Did you feel any negative attitudes coming from your male colleagues?
I have never had a bad experience with my male colleagues. Up until now I have only gained their respect in terms of my music and my persona. I imagine people from older generations might find this a bit odd, but the world has evolved.
Do you thing that your performance as an orchestra conductor may help empower women? Do you believe you have a bigger responsibility for this reason?
I think my endeavor can and should empower women, if only because of the fact that we – or I – have demonstrated what is obvious, namely that men and women can choose any profession, regardless of their gender. Having said that, my only responsibility is to be as professional as I can.
What would you like to do in the future?
If I actually had a choice I would travel the world, conduct in every country, every month, every week; I would engage in more music, not only classical but also contemporary, and become one of the most renowned orchestra directors – one of the top.
Which orchestras would you like to conduct?
I have a list! (she chuckles). First, the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra – the first one I ever heard. Then, of course, the other wonderful orchestras of the world: New York, Chicago, London, Berlin…
Did you have the chance to know any Paraguayan composers or their music?
No, I did not. When I was in Montevideo I got to know a few South-American compositions, but not specifically from Paraguay. I could not do it this time, mainly because the repertoire was compiled by Maestro Sánchez Haase.
Yom Kippur is a very special holiday for the Jewish People… What did you do on that day in Paraguay?
It is very strange to be in a different country, and spend Yom Kippur far from home, but I think it is a time for reflection and contemplation. I think it is a happy coincidence to spend Yom Kippur whilst working with Schumann’s emotive pieces. Thanks to Schumann I can connect to this special day despite being far from home.
Where will you go to after Paraguay?
For now I am flying home – to my kids, to my family… they need me!
Written by: Carlos Darío Torres.
Photography: Fernando Franceschelli.