Gabi Argov
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Gabi studied at the Academy of Music, Cape Town, before immigrating to Israel in 1976.
She studied at the Rubin Academy of Music, Tel Aviv, with Professor Victor Derevianko, graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree as well as an Artistic Diploma in Piano Performance.
In 1988, Gabi joined the Israel Chamber Orchestra, playing piano, harpsichord, celesta and harmonium. In this capacity, she travelled the world playing under the direction of renowned conductors, including Yoav Talmi, Philip Entremont and Shlomo Mintz among many others. Alongside her career both as soloist and in Chamber Music ensembles, Gabi developed a passion for working with singers.
She has accompanied and coached many soloists, choirs, vocal ensembles and actors in Opera, Lied Recitals and Theatre, and writes vocal arrangements for the ensembles with which she works.
Gabi’s highly diversified musical activities have enabled her to attain enormous stage-experience, whether in Classical Music, Theatre or Musicals, and she feels equally at home in all of the above disciplines.
Her work has seen her travel extensively for concert tours and International Choral Festivals in Estonia, Latvia, Russia, England, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary, USA, Canada, Japan and New Zealand.
Since 2004, Gabi has been Artistic and Music Director for many varied shows throughout Israel, collaborating with several of the country’s foremost performing artists, including Matti Caspi, Dani Robas, Keren Hadar and Yonit Shaked Golan.
She has produced and arranged three CDs of Israeli Art Songs, and has performed on many TV and Radio programs.
She regularly collaborates with preeminent Israeli author/lyricist Dan Almagor in literary evenings, playing and singing texts composed by renowned Israeli poets.
Gabi lives in Kfar Saba, Israel, with her musician husband and has two daughters.
(Current to October 2018)
Timeline
THEATRE and MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS:
Gabi has arranged and/or played in the following productions:
Oklahoma, King David High School, Johannesburg, SA
South Pacific, King David High School, Johannesburg, SA
Carousel, Beit Zvi, Academy of Performing Arts, Israel, 1990
Chicago, Beit Zvi, Academy of Performing Arts, 1992
Lost in the Stars (based on Cry the Beloved Country) Habima Theatre, 1993
Les Miserables Cameri Theatre 1988 and 1995
The Pied Piper of Hamlin, Cameri Theatre 1989
The Italian Straw Hat, Haifa Theatre 1993
17 original Israeli theatre productions in the Haifa, Habima, Cameri and Beit Lessin Theatres as well as private productions
PRODUCER: Gabi has produced, played and sung in the following:
Abu Gosh Vocal Festival, Jerusalem, annually, since 1994
Two original productions: Balkan Music 1997, 1999
Peace and Freedom Songs from All Over the World 2003
Israeli Poets set to Music 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
Astor Piazolla – Tango, 2015
Viva Roma – Music From Operas and Films
Poetry/ Music Festivals since 2010
Voice Work
In her capacity as an accompanist, she works beyond conventional musical accompaniment, giving workshops on Rhythm and Vocal Style, and has very recently created a workshop called: “I am the creator of my stage” – an in-depth experiential workshop which tackles the question of how much I can create within any given production/performance.
How can I bring my personal qualities when there is a director/conductor who imposes his personal taste upon the artists.
• Being an active performer herself, she is well versed in all aspects of stage behaviour, and specializes in accessing the emotional connection between the actor/singer and the text/song/dramatic scene, and realizing them on the stage.
• In 1996, began studying various voice disciplines ranging from therapeutic methods - VMT (Voice Movement Therapy) and the Tomatis Method - to Overtone Chanting.
• Gabi also works with both business people and private individuals who wish to improve their expressive abilities. This work includes Body Language and Voice work, breathing, simulations, accessing intent and putting it into motion.