A young, rising star in the classical music world, concert pianist Stéphanie Elbaz recently visited Cape Town, showcasing her piano-playing talent at a number of concerts in the city, including an intimate one organised by the UJC.
The concert came about after Stéphanie was introduced to Philip Krawitz by former South African Joseph Segal, and she is extremely grateful for the generosity and warmth of her hosts in Cape Town.
Born in Casablanca, Morocco, to a Jewish family steeped in culture and creativity, Stéphanie currently lives in France, the country her father wanted to live in because “he regarded it as the birthplace of culture and literature”. She began her music education at the age of eight, when she learned to play the guitar. Subsequently, she learned to play other instruments, including the piano, which has become the instrument that highlights her musical career. And her musical journey continues: recently, she began learning jazz, allowing her to improvise and create her own music by transcribing classical pieces in a jazz style, offering new dimensions to the classical repertoire.
“In addition to my time in France, I had the opportunity to refine my craft abroad in Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany. This international exposure greatly enriched my musical perspective, and I had the privilege of learning from exceptional teachers and performing in diverse cultural settings. I spent several years in Germany, which further shaped my musical identity before I returned to France to continue my career,” Stéphanie explains.
A lover of the work of many composers, Stéphanie highlights her favourite pieces, including Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody 2, which she played at the performance for the UJC. Other favourites for performance are: Rachmaninov’s Musical Moments and Concerto no. 2 and 3; Chopin’s Concerto and first Ballade; and all the concerti by Mozart.
Passionate about the compositions of Bach, Liszt, Mozart and Rachmaninov, Stéphanie is also determined to bring the music of the French Jewish composer Charles-Valentin Alkan to a wider audience. “His Piano Concerto is a monumental work, lasting
50 minutes. It is one of the most difficult pieces ever written for solo piano: the extreme difficulty of his compositions often serves as a barrier to their wider appreciation and frequent performance. But I hope my interpretation can bring more attention to his remarkable works and inspire others to explore his music,” she explains, commenting that one can listen to her rendition of Alkan’s Piano Concerto on her YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@StephanieElbaz).
While it’s still relatively early days in her professional musical career, Stéphanie has a strong vision for her future years in the profession. As she says, “My ultimate goal in my music career is to continue growing both as a performer and a composer, sharing my love for music with a broader audience and contributing to the cultural dialogue. I also aim to perform many piano concertos, bringing the power and emotion of classical music to life with brilliant orchestras.”
The audience privileged to hear Stéphanie play in Cape Town would agree that she achieved the goal she has set for herself. She says, “After each concert, I hope to have transmitted something deeply personal to each listener, creating an emotional experience that resonates long after the performance.” ●
“Classical music is such a powerful form of expression. It can evoke stronger emotions than other genres, and it’s something that can profoundly impact people’s lives. It can transcend borders and unite individuals through the universal language of sound.”
Life for Jews in Morocco today
Bucking the trend among Muslim nations, Morocco welcomes the return of its former Jewish citizens. Stéphanie has a cousin, Georges Emmanuel Benhaim, who went back to live in the country. With a leading business in the food and beverage sector in Morocco, he feels very comfortable in the country, and advises his family members in France, “We need to come back to Morocco; everything is going very well here.”
Stéphanie will visit soon, something she looks forward to because her Moroccan Jewish heritage is a strong part of her identity.
- DIGITAL MAGAZINE FORMAT: Click here for the April 2025 issue
- SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the Cape Jewish Chronicle for just R450 per year and you will remain connected. – Simply email us at subscriptions@ctjc.co.za and click here for payment info.
- ADVERTISE in the Cape Jewish Chronicle and on this website. Contact Lynette on 021 464 6736 or email advertising@ctjc.co.za.
