From the world of mathematics to the realm of music, from Germany to
Israel, from classic to Klezmer, the journey of
Helmut Eisel through the Clarinet Klezmer is quite unique.
Born In Germany in 1955 he graduated in Mathematics in 1985 and began to
work as business consultant.
Those days Giora Feidman, the famous clarinet Klezmer
player, was conducting masters classes in Germany and Helmut Eisel began to take part to
them.
Soon he became Giora Feidman's assistant and then he was at a crossroad, having to choose between a
business career or a full time job playing clarinet. Fortunately for us he chose the musical career and since
then, he dedicated himself entirely to music. Since 1993 he is conducting workshops "Klezmer
Improvisation" in Germany and each summer in Tsfat (Safed-Israel) at Clarinet and Klezmer in Galilee's
Seminars and Masters Classes.
Helmut Eisel founded several orchestras and ensembles, a clarinet
quartet,"Helmut Eisel Clarinet Funtet", a duo "Clarinet Stories", a solo program, a quintet "Helmut Eisel and
Band", and his trio, "Helmut Eisel and JEM" (JEM are the initials of the three founders of the group
Herbert Jagst,
Helmut Eisel und
Michael Marx; Jagst,
the double bass player deceased in 2000, Stefan Engelmann took over his place) .
He is also performing with Marina Baranova, a classical
Ukrainian pianist, and they are playing masterpieces by Mussorgsky, Rachmaninoff, Bela Bartok together with
traditional Klezmer melodies. The chemistry between Helmut and Marina is absolute, their virtuosity is phenomenal
still full of sensibility, emotion and expressiveness.This exceptional chamber music duo program is called
"Impromptu".
During one of the Clarinet and Klezmer in the Galilee workshops
Helmut jammed with some talented youg musicians and together they founded the "Klezmer All
Star Clarinet Gang" (David Orlowsky Clarinet, Avi Avital Mandolin, Michal Beit Halachmi Bass Clarinet,
Moran Katz Clarinet, Stefan Engelmann Bass...).
Helmut is performing all around Germany and Europe as well as in Israel
where he has been awarded by The Israel Music Society for his contribution to the Klezmer music.
Helmut Eisel is also a composer, he wrote film scores, theater music and
appeared on numerous radio and TV shows. He composed a symphonic fairy tale "Naftule and the King" for symphonic
orchestra and Klezmer trio.
He played together with Giora Feidman an original composition dedicated
to the musicians slaughtered during the Holocaust at Yad Vashem Memorial in Jerusalem.
Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Mussorgsky, Rachmaninov, Dave Tarras , Naftule
Brandwein, W-C Handy, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Sidney Bechet, Giora Feidman ... and Helmut Eisel.
Helmut is the worthy heir and successor of all those prestigious
musicians of all horizons, Classical, Jazz, Klezmer, like Giora Feidman he is crossing the borders.
Each of his performances is quite unique, his ability to invent and to
improvize is infinite, always imagining new incredible sounds, new harmonies, new paths to emotion, stirring the
soul, reaching the inner voice. His fingers are running on the clarinet, the air is blowing through the mouthpiece,
from silence, almost inaudible pianissimo to a roaring fortissimo, from altissimo to lower register, the audience
is ecstatic, deeply moved by the power of his music.
Helmut Eisel is not playing Klezmer, he is Klezmer.
Helmut Eisel is a genuine Klezmer, a musician who shares his rare talent
and donates it to us.

Helmut Eisel in Israel
before a concert at the Tsfat Klezmer Festival
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