Paul Ben-Haim was a Jewish composer who left Germany for Palestine, then a British mandate, not long after the Nazis came to power. Under his Hebrew name, Ben-Haim soon became one of the pioneers of classical music in Israel. His compositions are in a late Romantic vein with Middle Eastern overtones.

His rousing first symphony was written for the Palestine Orchestra (today’s Israel Philharmonic) during 1939-40. He was determined to composer a dramatic symphony in the midst of the depressing war and the rise of Hitler and this work expresses the tragic and intense period of history in which it was composed. A highly significant discovery!