Israel Alter

Austrian-Hungarian Jewish cantor born September 23, 1901 in Lemberg, died November 16, 1979, in New York City. Israel Alter was one of many the great virtuoso cantors of his generation and one of the most erudite exponents of artistic hazzanut on a classical level. Born in Lemberg (then in Galicia, part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; now L’viv, in Ukraine). Israel Alter studied Talmud in Lemberg and Vienna. In Vienna he studied voice for five years with the famous voice professor Stefan Pollmann. At the age of 20 Alter received his first posting as a cantor in Vienna. In 1925 he became Oberkantor in Hannover. When the National Socialists came to power he emigrated to South Africa in 1935, and became cantor of the synagogue of the United Hebrew Congregation, Johannesburg. In 1961 Alter moved to the USA where he worked as a cantor in New York. Alter made the first recordings in 1925 and did concerts in Europe and USA (Carnegie Hall, for example). After his death 40 records from as early as 1930 were found. At least three LP releases were issued, by the Parlophone company in London and Musique International in Chicago.