Khoury, Houtaf (b. 1967, Tripoli-Lebanon)

Born in Lebanon in 1967.Known as a composer of symphonies and other large-scale works, Houtaf Khoury has written five symphonies and 17 concerti for various instruments, as well chamber, solo and vocal works. His second Symphony (Reminicenza) received its premiere and recording with the Bamberger symphoniker orchestra in 2012 conducted by Pierre Dominique Ponnelle (one of the last assistants of Herbert Von Karajan. Frozen in his native country gave him the opportunity to work outside which allowed him to be recognized as a musical voice, leading to excellent festivals , commissions and increasingly frequent performances in Europe , Asia and America : In recent seasons, world premieres of specially commissioned works have taken place , Among “ Metamorfrozen” for viola and piano has been performed more than 250 times last years, as well recorded on a Cd, Second Symphony with the Bamberger Symphoniker recorded for the Bavarian Radio, Third Symphony “ Time of fear” with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, 4^th Symphony “ Street of dreams” with the Kharkov Philharmonic Orchestra, Third Viola concerto “ Lost to this world” with the Lebanese Philharmonic orchestra, first Flute concerto “ Mirror of Eternity” with Wissam Boustany and NSOU, Second piano concerto : Angel of Light” with the Qatar philharmonic and Tatiana Primak Khoury, Piano quartet with Weimarer Klavierquartett, “ Gardens of Love” for clarinet and strings with the famous Brodsky,Quartet, “In Memoriam” with Mannheim Chamber Orchestra “ Die O Antiphonen” for string quintet, Clarinet, piano, percussion and Choir with Lucerne Soloists, "Au delà de L'instant" for Oboe and string Quintet with players from the Lucerne Orchestra, Clarinet Sonata "Mémoire de l’absence" in Ebikon , Lucerne with Dimitri Ashkenazy , “ MarimBach” for Marimba,violin and Clarinet written for MOA Trio in Zurich, String quartet N.3 "Douleur de L'instant" with the Swedish Stenhammar Quartet, are among his passionate champions. Houtaf studied composition in Ukraine with Yuri Ishenko at the National Music Academy of Ukraine in Kyiv – (1988-97), where he earned his MMus with distinction in 1993 and his PhD in 1997 with Professor Ivan kotlyarevsky. His music has been performed in the 4 continents. The recordings of his flute concerto, flute sonata & third & 4^th piano sonatas on Nimbus Alliance & Grand piano/Naxos have been highly praised and received by the critics. Houtaf Khoury is an Artist for Labels “Grand piano/Naxos”, Nimbus, Toccata classics as well Paladino and Orlando records.