Baruch Berliner’s Genesis Performed to Great Acclaim in Málaga
Last Thursday, March 5, Málaga welcomed the premiere of the Genesis symphonic poem by composer Baruch Berliner, where it was met with an enthusiastic reception. The performance took place at the Edgar Neville Hall of the Provincial Deputation of Málaga as part of a cultural exchange between the province of Málaga and China’s Hunan Province. Brilliantly performed by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Málaga under the baton of the renowned conductor Yan Jiangnan, the concert was presented in two parts.
In the first part, violinist Wang Xiaotong performed two pieces, which were warmly received by the audience. The second half of the concert centered on Dr. Berliner’s symphonic poem, “Genesis,” highlighted by a special appearance from Pedro Ignacio Altamirano, who read excerpts from the Torah. This complex work, weaving together the orchestra, visual projections, and spoken narration, was rendered with remarkable cohesion under Mr. Yan’s masterful direction.
Genesis
Composed by Dr. Berliner and drawn from texts of the Torah, Genesis is a symphonic work of profound philosophical and spiritual reach. The music unfolds as a creative meditation on the origins of the world, the emergence of light and life, and the fundamental questions at the heart of human existence. The Genesis Project was conceived in partnership with musician and producer Nachum Slutzker, whose vision was instrumental in the creation and ongoing development of the namesake work.
Since its original conception as a symphonic poem, Genesis has grown into a large-scale international artistic endeavor. In the composer’s own words, the work gradually expanded over time: new sections were added to the original version—including the episode of Cain and Abel, a prologue, and an epilogue—enhancing the composition’s dramatic and structural cohesion.
Genesis stands out for its narrative richness, emotional intensity, and its striving to fuse intellect, feeling, and spirituality. The work goes beyond illustrating passages from the Torah and invites the listener to a broader reflection on the creation of the world, human nature, light and darkness, and the destiny of humankind. With its far-reaching creative vision, Genesis has become the centerpiece of the Genesis International Project, showcased in numerous countries through a variety of musical and performance formats.
About composer Baruch Berliner
Baruch Berliner was born in Tel Aviv in 1942. His creative path has been particularly unusual, as it bridges the realms of artistic expression and scientific inquiry. Beyond his work as a composer, Dr. Berliner is also a mathematician, researcher, poet, and thinker. He studied at the University of Zurich, earning advanced academic qualifications, and later built a distinguished career in research and teaching.
From his earliest years, his life was deeply entwined with European culture and music. In his youth, Dr. Berliner studied under Ödön Pártos, a distinguished Israeli composer and a leading figure in the country’s musical landscape. This education, combined with Dr Berliner’s deep literary and philosophical sensibilities, shaped a highly distinctive creative voice, one that unites abstract thought, poetic imagination, and a powerful spiritual dimension.
In Baruch Berliner’s musical legacy, Genesis holds a central place. This work encapsulates many of the qualities that define his expressive language: a search for meaning, symbolic power, a humanistic dimension, and the pursuit of music as a means to reflect on the essential mysteries of existence. Performed in a wide range of contexts, his compositions have received international recognition, establishing Dr. Berliner as a unique figure in contemporary music.
Source: www.suiteinformacion.es