Youssef Elsisi
Encyclopedia
Youssef Elsisi was an Egyptian conductor and music educator.
. Both his father and mother encouraged him to listen to and appreciate classical music
. His interests in music later grew serious, when the family moved to Cairo
in the 1940s.
His father, an engineer, wished that he would not pursue professional music, so Elsisi went to study English literature
at the Cairo University
in addition to continuing his music studies. In 1956, he graduated from both the Higher Institute of Music and the Cairo University in English literature. In 1961, he received a scholarship to travel to Austria and study at the Vienna Music Academy. He studied under Hans Swarowsky
and graduated 1965 in both conducting and composition.http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2000/508/cu1.htm
After returning from his studies, he became permanent then principal conductor and artistic director of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra performing most symphonic and operatic repertoire at the Opera House. His efforts were crucial to bringing classical music and opera performances back from a standstill, due to the destruction of the Opera House in 1972.
He pushed musicians forward to a level of performance which enabled them to play the most sophisticated pieces, such as Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. He also brought classical music to audiences outside of Cairo and presented concerts in Alexandria and upper Egypt. He was the first conductor to perform open air concerts in summer seasons in Cairo reaching classical music to a wider range of audiences.
He was awarded Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Literature) by the French government 1983 and the Liszt Memorial Plaque by the Hungarian government 1986 for his contributions to music in Egypt.
Beside reviving symphonic and operatic music in Egypt, he played an key role in presenting Egyptian contemporary symphonic work in Egypt and abroad on his travels. Among contemporary Egyptian composers music he included in his performances were Aziz El-Shawan
, Gamal Abdel-Rahim
, Sayed Awad, Rageh Daoud, Abou-Bakr Khairat and others.
He was awarded the Egyptian State's Decoration of Arts 1989 for his efforts in promoting of Egyptian national music in Egypt and abroad.
He frequently wrote and lectured music appreciation in different colleges and in the media raising music awareness.
As a visiting professor for graduate studies he lectured on musicology and music appreciation at most music institutions in Cairo. In 1990 he became a Fulbright grant recipient and taught at the Eastman School of Music in the United States. He also taught in Kuwait, South Korea, and Japan. His students include Adel Kamel
, Mohamed Abdelwahab Abdelfattah
, and Omar Khairat
.
Youssef Elsisi died in Cairo on 9 November 2000, of heart attack.
Biography
Elsisi was born in Shebin Al-Kom, EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Both his father and mother encouraged him to listen to and appreciate classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
. His interests in music later grew serious, when the family moved to Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
in the 1940s.
His father, an engineer, wished that he would not pursue professional music, so Elsisi went to study English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
at the Cairo University
Cairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
in addition to continuing his music studies. In 1956, he graduated from both the Higher Institute of Music and the Cairo University in English literature. In 1961, he received a scholarship to travel to Austria and study at the Vienna Music Academy. He studied under Hans Swarowsky
Hans Swarowsky
Hans Swarowsky was an Austrian conductor of Hungarian birth and Jewish descent.Swarowsky was born in Budapest, Hungary. He studied the art of conducting under Felix Weingartner and Richard Strauss...
and graduated 1965 in both conducting and composition.http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2000/508/cu1.htm
After returning from his studies, he became permanent then principal conductor and artistic director of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra performing most symphonic and operatic repertoire at the Opera House. His efforts were crucial to bringing classical music and opera performances back from a standstill, due to the destruction of the Opera House in 1972.
He pushed musicians forward to a level of performance which enabled them to play the most sophisticated pieces, such as Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. He also brought classical music to audiences outside of Cairo and presented concerts in Alexandria and upper Egypt. He was the first conductor to perform open air concerts in summer seasons in Cairo reaching classical music to a wider range of audiences.
He was awarded Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Literature) by the French government 1983 and the Liszt Memorial Plaque by the Hungarian government 1986 for his contributions to music in Egypt.
Beside reviving symphonic and operatic music in Egypt, he played an key role in presenting Egyptian contemporary symphonic work in Egypt and abroad on his travels. Among contemporary Egyptian composers music he included in his performances were Aziz El-Shawan
Aziz El-Shawan
Aziz El-Shawan was an Egyptian composer of classical music...
, Gamal Abdel-Rahim
Gamal Abdel-Rahim
Gamal Abdel-Rahim , was an Egyptian classical music composer, educator, and pianist. His best-known work is the symphony Osiris.-Life and career:...
, Sayed Awad, Rageh Daoud, Abou-Bakr Khairat and others.
He was awarded the Egyptian State's Decoration of Arts 1989 for his efforts in promoting of Egyptian national music in Egypt and abroad.
He frequently wrote and lectured music appreciation in different colleges and in the media raising music awareness.
As a visiting professor for graduate studies he lectured on musicology and music appreciation at most music institutions in Cairo. In 1990 he became a Fulbright grant recipient and taught at the Eastman School of Music in the United States. He also taught in Kuwait, South Korea, and Japan. His students include Adel Kamel
Adel Kamel
Dr. Adel Kamel عادل كامل was a Music critic, musicologist and composer.He was one of the writers in Watani newspaper, the founder of “Panorama” section, a lecturer in Universities in Egypt and abroad, a member of jury in international choir competitions, amember of many international...
, Mohamed Abdelwahab Abdelfattah
Mohamed Abdelwahab Abdelfattah
Mohamed Abdelwahab Abdelfattah is an Egyptian composer of contemporary classical music and educator. He is a member of Egypt's third generation of classical composers.-Biography:...
, and Omar Khairat
Omar Khairat
Omar Khairat Omar Khairat Omar Khairat (Arabic: عمر خيرت; A composer, pianist, founder and conductor of "Omar Khairat's Group". Born in Cairo. He was raised in a family of musicians. His uncle is Abou-Bakr Khairat, the great Egyptian composer and architect who established the Cairo Conservatoire...
.
Youssef Elsisi died in Cairo on 9 November 2000, of heart attack.
Honors and awards
- 1983 Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Literature) from the French government.
- 1986 Liszt Memorial Plaque from the Hungarian government.
- 1989 Egyptian State's Decoration of Arts.
- 1989/1990 Fulbright grant recipient.