NATRA, SERGIU

NATRA, SERGIU (Nadler, Serge; 1924–), Israeli composer. Born in Bucharest, Romania, he studied at the Musical Academy there under Leo Klepper, won the Georges Enesco Prize (1945) for his March and Chorale (which was performed by the Palestine PO in 1947, 14 years prior to his immigration to Israel) and the Romanian State Prize (1951). In 1961, he immigrated to Israel and settled in Tel Aviv and from 1975 to 1985 he taught at the Rubin Academy of Music, Tel Aviv. His Israeli honors include the Milo (1965), Engel (1970), and Prime Minister's (1984) prizes for composers. Natra's early works show the influence of Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and Hindemith. However, after he immigrated to Israel, his works were influenced by the new landscape, the Hebrew language, and biblical themes. In the 1970s he also composed in free atonality. Among his works are Symphony for Strings (1960); Music for Violin and Harp (1960); Toccata for Orchestra (1963); Music for Harpsichord and Six Instruments (1964); Sonatina for Harp (1965); Song of Deborah, for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra (1967), Sonatinas for Trumpet, Oboe, and Trombone with Piano (1969); Interlude for Harp and Prayer for Harp (1970); Dedication for Mezzo-soprano and Orchestra (1972); Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello (1971); Divertimento for harp (1976); Ness-Amim Cantata (1984); and Sonata for harp and string quartet (1997). -ADD. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Grove online. (Uri (Erich) Toeplitz / Yohanan Boehm / Israela Stein (2nd ed.)