ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — An hour before Ofra Harnoy’s mother went into labour, she decided her child would be a cellist.
“She played the piano professionally; my father was an amateur violinist and they wanted to have a family trio,” Harnoy said. “She was listening to the Tchaikovsky Piano Trio and saying, ‘Definitely, our (child) is going to be a cellist.’”
But it wasn’t until she was five when a quarter-size cello arrived at her home in Israel.
“I was kind of disappointed because it wasn’t a toy,” she said. “But I took to it pretty quickly and ended up having my first concert at the age of six. It was so natural to play.”
Her family moved to Toronto around that time. By age 10, she was auditioning for an orchestra under conductor Boyd Neel.
“He said, ‘You’re not orchestra material. You have the talent to be a soloist,’” Harnoy recalled. “It was a little weird that a 10-year-old was coming to audition but I kind of got used to being around older people.”
Under Neel, she had her debut as a soloist. It was then she realized when she closed her eyes, the music was even more alive.
“It becomes textures and colours and storylines and sometimes I go into a whole zone,” she said.
She’s been pursuing that zone ever since, receiving the Order of Canada, five Juno Awards, recording contracts, and becoming recognized as one of the best cellists in the world, along the way.
"(Music) becomes textures and colours and storylines and sometimes I go into a whole zone." — Ofra Harnoy
In 2017, Harnoy reconnected with a long-distance love from her teenage years, multi-instrumentalist, producer and recording engineer Mike Herriott.
Over lunch, they discovered their relationship from 35 years previous had been sabotaged.
“I was told she dumped me for some other guy and… she said ‘No, you just stopped writing,’” Herriott said. “And the glass shattered. Nothing ever went away. We felt the same way we felt all those years ago.”
After vacationing in Newfoundland and Labrador, where Herriott spent the majority of his childhood, Harnoy fell in love with the province's music, culture and people.
Already in the market for a house in Toronto, they thought, “Why not buy a house in St. John’s?”
“And it was on that vacation that we bought this house,” she said. “No regrets, no looking back.”
They’ve made two recordings in their home studio, “Back to Bach” and “On the Rock.”
“We’re a complete team since we’ve been together,” Harnoy said.
20 Questions
1. What is your full name?
Ofra Harnoy.
2. Where and when were you born?
1965 in Hadera, Israel.
3. Where do you live today?
St. John’s.
4. What’s your favourite place in the world?
Right here, right now. (In) this house in St. John’s. I’ve travelled all over the world and there are many places I think are amazing, but I’d have to say this is No. 1.
5. Who do you follow on social media?
Classical musicians, jazz musicians, NL photography, Bengal cats, plant-based nutrition and vegan sites.
6. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
The first time I went skating in my life was two winters ago on that lake (behind the house). I’ve been afraid to break parts of me because I’m a cellist. My parents really protected me and I didn’t get to do a lot of stuff like that. (My husband) bought me wrist guards, elbow guards, knee guards, a helmet and I can hardly move, I’m like the Michelin man. All of these puffy snow pants and puffy sweater and I’m just going, “I can skate. I can skate.” So it wasn’t the most flattering, but I didn’t fall down.
7. What’s been your favourite year and why?
I would have to say 2017 because Mike and I found each other and when you’ve reconnected with the love of your life, you find true happiness. I’m the best version of myself when I’m with him.
8. What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
Recuperate from a debilitating shoulder surgery. I had major reconstructive surgery and didn’t know if I’d ever play again. I finally ended up finding a surgeon in the States who did this reconstructive surgery because no one in Canada would do it. Nothing against the healthcare system in Canada, but everybody was afraid to commit to reconstructing my shoulder.
It took a lot of patience, perseverance, physio and exercises. The date of my comeback concert (was) Nov. 15, 2018. I actually feel stronger now than I ever have. I actually didn’t perform for almost 15 years. There were other factors … but when I tried to come back to playing, I realized every single tendon was shredded from wear and tear, and then I didn’t play at all.
9. Can you describe one experience that changed your life?
I have to come back to (my husband). It’s interesting because even though I had all these therapies after the surgery and I would go for MRI’s and they would (tell me) everything looks back to normal, (that I) should be out of pain, but I wasn’t. Miraculously, about two weeks after we got together. the pain was gone and it was like I was ready to start playing again. I don’t believe in a lot of that stuff, but the timing of it was just amazing. I think you hold your stress in the weakest places in your body and I think that was part of it.
10. What’s your greatest indulgence?
I like food. I like cooking, I like eating, I like going to a great restaurant. I just love food.
11. What is your favourite movie or book?
(For favourite movie), I’d have to say maybe (the 1971 musical) “Fiddler on the Roof.” That’s a tough one though, I have a lot. Favourite books is really hard because I had phases in my youth (when) I read “Watership Down” (by Richard Adams) maybe 12 or 13 times. That was a book that really grasped me. And then I was obsessed with Charles Dickens, I read everything I could get my hands on. Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.
12. How do you like to relax?
Exercise. Long walks. Hiking. There’s some great hiking here. Listening to music. Kayak, definitely kayak.
13. What are you reading or watching right now?
We are re-watching the three “Godfather” movies. And I’m actually reading “How Not to Die” by Michael Greger.
14. What is your greatest fear?
My greatest fear was almost realized because I was told I’d never play again, but that’s not an issue now. There’s lots, but I’m terrified of clowns. I’m absolutely petrified. I’ll break out into a sweat and pass out, it’s like a phobia.
15. How would you describe your personal fashion statement?
My daughter always says, “Mom, you try to dress like girls in their 20s.” So, I would say, ranging from hip to elegant depending on the situation.
16. What is your most treasured possession?
My cello.
Posted by Ofra Harnoy on Thursday, September 17, 2020
17. What physical or personality trait are you most grateful to a parent for?
My lips. Is that a vain thing to say? I see a lot of women have to outline their lips, I just have naturally full lips and I like that. I’m blushing now because I’m not used to saying nice things about myself.
18. What three people would join you for your dream dinner party?
I’ve always wanted to meet (actor and writer) Nathan Lane. So maybe (Lane), Robin Williams and Charles Dickens. Can (my husband) be at the dinner party? Oh, three, OK. Sorry Charles, I’m not having my dinner party without (my husband).
19. What is your best quality, and what is your worst quality?
My best quality is sense of humour and my worst quality is being too sensitive. In some ways, it’s good for an artist, but it makes it hard in life.
20. What music are you listening to right now?
We listen to music that we’re not working on. I find it takes too much of my mind to listen to classical music, so I listen to stuff like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, The Mills Brothers, Elton John, Queen, the Beatles, Supertramp. The classical thing I’m listening to now is the Schubert two cello quintet (String Quintet in C major, D. 956) because I’m working on that again. I like listening to many different interpretations. I’m playing that with the Atlantic String Quartet (on) May (16).
Note: The answers have been edited for length.
