Klara Imas
Israel- Clara Imas: Romanian-Israeli-American Violinist and Artistic Whistler
- Violin Virtuosity and Artistic Whistling
- Early Career in Chișinău
- Marriage and Move to Palestine
- Political Turmoil and Impact on Career
Clara Imas: Romanian-Israeli-American Violinist and Artistic Whistler
Early Life and Musical BeginningsClara Imas was born on May 21, 1914, in Chișinău, Bessarabian Governorate (now Moldova). Her father, Aron Imas, was a talented self-taught painter and accountant, and her mother, Raisa Schwartzman, was a homemaker who possessed a strong musicality and played the violin.
From a young age, Clara exhibited an exceptional musical talent. She began violin lessons with her mother and later attended the French Lycée "Général Berthelot," where she earned her baccalaureate. Concurrently, she studied violin at the "Unirea" Conservatory under the renowned professor Marc Pester.
Violin Virtuosity and Artistic Whistling
Under Pester's guidance, Clara honed her skills as a soloist and ensemble player, performing works by Paganini, Sarasate, Wieniawski, and Lalo. She also played in various chamber ensembles with her classmates, including cellists B. Schwartzberg and J. Slepak, violinists R. Berzon and M. Kojushner, and pianists S. Taxir and S. Shirman.
During this period, Clara discovered her unique talent for artistic whistling. With her exceptional natural ability, she quickly mastered the technique, timbre, and breath control necessary to perform complex classical pieces, such as Alyabiev's "The Nightingale" and Chopin's waltzes.
Early Career in Chișinău
At the age of 16, Clara began performing at charity concerts and later joined the "Smile" theater led by the renowned singer L. Lipkovskaya. Her performance of Alyabiev's "The Nightingale" on the whistle earned her the nickname "the Chișinău Nightingale."
Despite her artistic success, Clara continued to focus on the violin, taking lessons at the "Bucharest Music Academy" and preparing to study at the "Berlin Conservatory." However, her plans were disrupted by the rise of Hitler in Germany in 1933.
Marriage and Move to Palestine
In 1935, Clara married and moved to Palestine (now Israel), where her husband resided. She continued to perform extensively throughout the Middle East and Europe. She frequently visited Chișinău and performed on Bucharest Radio with the symphony orchestra conducted by renowned composer Teodor Rogalski.
Political Turmoil and Impact on Career
As the political climate in Romania shifted towards Romanian nationalism, the government became increasingly anti-Semitic. In 1938, the pro-fascist "National-Christian Defense League" came to power, escalating tensions and discrimination against Jewish citizens.
