ISRAEL: Israel's top church organist performs in concerts in the evenings, works as a garbage man in the mornings

Record ID: 396128

  • Title: ISRAEL: Israel's top church organist performs in concerts in the evenings, works as a garbage man in the mornings
  • Date: 11th November 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ROMAN KRASNOVSKY, CHURCH ORGANIST AND GARBAGE MAN, SAYING: "There were some cases that ahead of some of my most important concerts, that I even took a few days off before the travel, why? Because I was scared that soon something might happen to my hands, to my feet, to everything." CLOSE OF KRASNOVSKY'S HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ROMAN KRASNOVSKY, CHU
  • Embargoed: 26th November 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVAB6653WBVFS7OEY7V5QE912EI1
  • Story Text: Roman Krasnvosky doubles as a musician and garbage man, despite health risks and social embarrassment.
    Organist Roman Krasnovsky barely had time to acknowledge the applause at the end of his recital at a Tel Aviv church last month before he had to rush back home to start his day job -- collecting rubbish.
    Picking up the trash in Karmiel, a town in northern Israel, is steady work, allowing the Ukrainian-born Krasnovsky, 53, time for playing, teaching and composing.
    But his job, riding a rattling garbage truck can strike an odd note at his performances in Israel and abroad.

    "At some concerts when I have been introduced... : 'Today Roman Krasnovsky will be playing... he is a famous organist but in Israel he has to work as a rubbish collector," Krasnovsky said. "Moments like those made me feel really bad because they look at me like I am unfortunate."
    Krasnovsky began playing the piano at age 5. He studied at various musical academies in the former Soviet Union and among his teachers counted famed composer Aram Khachaturian.
    Before immigrating to Israel in 1990 at age 35, Krasnovsky was the principal keyboard player at the Kharkov Symphony Orchestra. He was drawn to the organ after the city installed a new one at its main concert hall.
    But with two elderly parents to look after, Krasnovsky decided to remain in Israel even though he knew it was not a good place to further his career. Despite having many churches, the Jewish state has only a small number of good organs. Krasnovsky says he knew that he could not make a living here, but at the time it was important for him to be in a free country and to play where he wanted.
    Krasnovsky cut an enthusiastic figure as he scurried down Karmiel's quiet residential streets in the early morning, dragging out the full bins in preparation for emptying by his colleagues on the crew's truck that was not far behind.
    But he has reconciled himself with the job he has been doing for the past 17 years while taking particular care not to injure his hands or feet before a concert.

    "There were some cases that ahead of some of my most important concerts, that I even took a few days off before the travel, why? Because I was scared that soon something might happen to my hands, to my feet," he said. "What I know is that if I think about it all the time, something bad will happen," he added.
    He has played at many of the world's most famous churches, including Notre Dame in Paris, Cologne's massive cathedral, St. Paul's in London and at King's College Chapel, Cambridge.
    Krasnovsky dreams that one day he may be invited to play at venues further afield, but in the meanwhile he basks in the compliments of his colleagues.

    "I listened to him... he sent it to me by email, and there is no one better..." garbage truck driver Neri Yosef told Reuters. "He plays piano better than he works at the garbage...but he is a good guy,"
    said Keith, another work mate.
    Proudly holding up a compact disc of his Three Organ Symphonies whose cover illustration shows the stones of Jerusalem's Western Wall, Krasnovsky said his organ music is the first ever written on Jewish themes. As the disk was completed, Krasnovsky said he felt he could die in peace, as he managed to accomplish the most important thing in his life - a Jewish symphony written for the organ.
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