Moses Milner

Who is Moses Milner?

Mikhail "Moshe" Arnoldovich Milner was a Russian Jewish pianist and composer. He is notable as composer, and conductor, of the first Yiddish opera in post-revolution Russia "Die Himlen brenen" in 1923.

He sang in the choir of the Brodsky Synagogue in Kiev, then attended the Kiev Conservatory. He studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory from 1907 till 1915. While in St Petersburg Milner began to compose Yiddish songs for Susman Kiselgof's Society for Jewish Folk Music, and to write incidental music for Jewish theaters. He provided music for the Habima Theater and State Jewish Theater, Moscow, and the Leningrad choir Evokans.