Jacob Reuven | Mandolin

Displaying a unique blend of technical brilliance and a rich musical persona, Israeli mandolinist Jacob Reuven has firmly established himself as one of the most intriguing and sought-after mandolin virtuosos. As one of the foremost specialists worldwide in interpreting violin repertoire on the mandolin, Jacob’s extensive musical repertoire spans classical, baroque, contemporary, and world music, as well as compositions for modern dance and theater, all infused with his distinctive voice and unwavering commitment to musical excellence.

In the upcoming seasons, Jacob will perform in major international engagements, including performances of Vivaldi and Piazzolla’s Seasons with the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra. He will also embark on a tour featuring the premiere of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, Op. 56 in a groundbreaking arrangement for mandolin, accordion, and piano, collaborating with Guy Mintus on piano and Omer Meir Wellber on accordion and conducting, performing with esteemed orchestras such as the WDR Symphony Orchestra, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Raanana Symphonette Orchestra. He will also present Mendelssohn’s Concerto for Violin and Piano, arranged for mandolin and piano, in collaboration with pianist Daniel Ciavano and the Tel-Aviv Soloists Ensemble. Additionally, he will be recording and premiering performances of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, Op. 61, arranged for mandolin, further expanding the instrument’s orchestral repertoire.

Most recently, he performed with the Orchestre National de France, premiering Aziza Sadikova’s Chaconne for Mandolin and Large Orchestra. His recent activities also include two highly successful tours in the USA, where he appeared at prestigious venues and concert series such as Rutland and Orangetown Jewish Centers, Boston GuitarFest, Austin Classical Guitar, and Kingston Chamber Music, among others.

As a soloist, Jacob has performed with some of the most esteemed orchestras, including Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, BBC Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra dell’Arena di Verona, Orchestra del Teatro Massimo, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, and Israeli Sinfonietta. He has also taken the stage at renowned international festivals and concert halls, including Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Dresdner Musikfestspiele, Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci, and Festival International Mandolines de Lunel. Throughout his career, Jacob has had the privilege of collaborating with distinguished conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Mstislav Rostropovitch, Antonio Pappano, Mendi Rodan, Zsolt Nagy, and Omer Meir Wellber.

Jacob has set new standards in mandolin playing, both in Israel and globally, becoming the first mandolin player to tackle violin repertoire with an orchestra. His performances are characterized by the warmth, richness, and nostalgic flavor of his playing, qualities that have endeared him to both audiences and critics. Jacob’s virtuosic and precise interpretations of solo violin repertoire have solidified his reputation.

A dedicated chamber musician, Jacob has collaborated with various ensembles, including the Jerusalem Quartet and the Vivace Ensemble, among many others. He is a highly regarded mandolin pedagogue and serves as a mandolin teacher at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. His instrument of choice is a custom-made mandolin by Israeli luthier Arik Kerman. Additionally, he is a member of Barrocade: the Israel Baroque Collective, where he frequently takes on the role of soloist. Jacob’s musical pursuits extend even further, as he is a valued member of the award-winning Kerman Mandolin Quartet, Israeli Mandolin Soloists, Duo Mantar, Ensemble Maktub, and the 16 Strings duo.