Judaica Division concert includes world premiere of sax concerto

As part of its celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel, the Harvard College Library’s Judaica Division will host the world premiere of a saxophone concerto composed by an award-winning Israeli composer Nov. 2, at 3 p.m. at Sanders Theatre.

Composed by Betty Olivero, the concerto, titled “Kri’ot,” is part of the concert “Israel at 60: Six Decades of Innovative Music” that will include performances of a handful of pieces by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project.

A limited number of complimentary tickets to the performance, which will also feature works by some of Israel’s most influential composers, will be made available to Harvard affiliates, said Charles Berlin, Lee M. Friedman Bibliographer in Judaica in the Harvard College Library.

“We really would like to provide more access for people who might be interested (in the concert),” Berlin said of the complimentary ticket offer.

The concert will also include compositions from Paul Ben-Haim, Mark Kopytman, and Joseph Tal. A 2 p.m. pre-concert talk will feature Avi Hanani, director of classical music at the Israel Broadcasting Authority.

Olivero’s composition was commissioned by the Friends of the Harvard Judaica Collection through a gift from its president, David B. Keidan ’66. The concert is sponsored by the Judaica Division and the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston.

Members of the Harvard community interested in receiving one or two complimentary tickets to the performance can contact the Judaica Division at juddiv@fas.harvard.edu.