Born in Brichevo, in Bessarabia (then part of Romania) in 1927, Gary Bertini was taken to Palestine when still a boy and at age 16 he began violin lessons. Awarded the Israel Prize in 1987, in honour of his work for music in his adoptive land, Bertini was taken ill in February, 2005, whilst in Paris, and was transferred to a medical centre just outside Tel Aviv, allowing him to die (just three weeks later) in the country whose musical life he had done so much to enrich. This live recording of the 'Damnation of Faust' from the Mann Auditorium Tel Aviv, 1996, is an 'In Memoriam' to a conductor who founded and directed many of Israel's musical institutions such as the Rinat Choir and Israeli Chamber Orchestra, The Musical Evenings for Contemporary Music and the Liturgica Festival. He also conducted at the major opera houses around the world and served as Music Director of the San Carlo Opera in Naples.

Ravel's 'Daphnis and Chloé' Ballet Music from 1974, with the Rinat Choir completes this 2-CD set.