Hagit Halaf

Hagit Halaf, was born in Israel into a family of well known musicians. She began playing the violin at 7 years of age.

As a student at the Israeli Conservatory Tel Aviv, the Telma Yelin School of music and the Music Academy of the Tel Aviv University , (where she received her Bachelor of music degree) she studied with teachers, Vali Blutner, Prof.Yair Kless, Chaim Taub, Nava Milo and Prof.Arthur Zisserman.

Ms. Halaf was the first place scholarship-winner of the “America-Israel Cultural Foundation” (Keren Sharet, prize) and won second and third prizes in the chamber music competition of the “Rubin Academy of Music Tel-Aviv”.

After serving duty as a musician in the Israeli army, she continued her studies at the Musikuniversität Wien with Prof. Jevgenia Tchougaeva and graduated with the diploma “Magistra Artium” (Master of Arts Degree) with distinction. Further, she attended chamber music and master classes with Pinchas Zuckerman, Miriam Fried, Vladimir Spivakov, Jevgenia Tchougaeva and Gerard Poulet.

During her studies she played in the ”Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra”, the “Radio Symphony Orchestra", Frankfurt and served as concertmaster of the “Telma Yelin" - and “Israeli Conservatory Symphony Orchestra”.

As soloist she performed with the “Orchestra of the Rubin Academy of Music Tel-Aviv” and the “European Philharmonic Orchestra”.

Chamber music activities include recordings for several broadcasting systems including Israel, Austria and Italy with performances at the “Wiener Konzerthaus”, the “Wiener Musikverein” and the “Auditorium di Milano”.

Since 2002 she co-operates regularly with the “Phiilharmonic of La Scala of Milano”, “Theater orchestra at La Scala” and the “Arturo Toscanini Philharmonic” in Parma Italy, under the baton of Lorin Maazel.

Presently, Ms Halaf tours in solo performances with her husbnd, Christoph Emmanuel Langhiem, Viola.

Christoph Langheim

German born violist, Christoph Emmanuel Langheim began his musical studies at eight years of age at the “Freie Waldorfschule” (Steiner school) in Frankfurt.

Langheim received his university diploma in viola from the Frankfurt Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst, after which he continued his studies under Chaim Taub, former concertmaster of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Thomas Kakuska, violist of the Alban Berg Quartet, at the Musikuniversitat Wein and at the University of Tel Aviv. Presently he is coaching with the virtuoso violist and composer, Michael Kugel.

During his studies he played in several orchestras, the All German Youth Orchestra, NDR-Radio Hannover Philharmonic and as principal violist in the LJO-Hessen and the World Youth Orchestra.

In 2001 the conductor, Riccardo Chailly selected Langheim as principal violist with the Orchestra Sinfonica ‘Giuseppe Verdi’ di Milano. He was presented as soloist in live broadcasting for RAI-Radio 3.
He currently collaborates with such orchestras as the La Scala Philharmonic, La Scala Theater Orchestra and the Arturo Toscanini Philharmonic, Lorin Maazel, Conductor.

Chamber music activities include performances at the Wiener Musikverein and the Auditorium di Milano and live-recordings for RAI-Radio 3.

Presently, Mr. Langheim tours with his wife, violinist, Hargit Halaf, in solo duo performances.

“Their interpretations are honest and fresh, with a fine sense of style. Besides excellent playing, great care goes into their interesting choice of repertoire”.

Christopher Hogwood, Conductor