Ilan Rechtman
Ilan Rechtman, born on 4 April 1963, is an Israeli pianist, composer, and music director. He gave his first performance with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra at age 11, playing Mozart’s Concerto in D minor, K.466. As a recitalist and chamber musician, he has toured in more than 50 countries and performed in major halls around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Barbican Centre, and Wigmore Hall.
From 2001 to 2007, Rechtman lived in Brazil, where he performed as a soloist with the State Orchestra of São Paulo and other regional orchestras, and he directed the Um Certo Olhar chamber music series at Sala São Paulo.
He has won several prizes, such as the Norry Prize from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, the Clairmont and Shapira Awards, and a Silver Medal at the first San Antonio International Piano Competition. He has recorded extensively for labels including Naxos and Centaur, and his solo recording of Villa-Lobos’ Chôros No. 5 was named Gramophone Magazine Editor’s Choice.
As a composer, his works have been published by Theodore Presser Company, Hofmeister, and Bottle Cello Publishing. His pieces "Rondo Op. 5" and "Fanfare by the Red Sea" were commissioned and conducted by Zubin Mehta and Lorin Maazel, respectively. He was also commissioned to compose a work for the 125th anniversary of the Chautauqua Institution Music Festival. His orchestral works have been performed by the Boston Pops and several regional symphonies.
His music was used by Nastia Liukin in the 2008 Beijing Olympics floor exercise, and it was featured in the 20th season of Dancing with the Stars in 2015. In 2008, Rechtman became music director of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art concert programs, overseeing about 70 concerts each season. He is the son of Mordechai Rechtman, a renowned bassoonist, conductor, and arranger.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:33 (CET).