ABILEAH, ARIE

ABILEAH, ARIE (1885–1985), Israel pianist. Born in Russia, Abileah gave his first concert at the age of six. He studied at the Conservatory of Petersburg under Marie Benoit, Liadov, and Glazounov and completed his artistic training in Geneva with Stavenhagen. He appeared as accompanist of joseph szigeti , joseph achron , and Maurice Maréchal. In 1914 he was appointed chairman of the piano department at the Music Academy in Geneva, a position he held until 1922. He was active in 1922–26 as a piano teacher in Tel Aviv. During 1926–32 Abileah performed at concerts in Paris and New York. In 1932 he settled in Jerusalem where he was appointed professor at the Music Academy and, as chairman of the Musicians' Association, organized chamber music concert series. He made recordings for the Israel Broadcasting Authority. (Ury Eppstein)