Nancy Brandes – an Israeli arranger, composer, and conductor of Romanian origin – played a central role in shaping some of Ofra Haza’s most iconic sounds during the 1980s. From the recordings that marked her major mainstream breakthrough to the refined ballads released shortly before she captured international attention, Brandes had a rare ability to translate Ofra’s voice into rich, emotionally resonant, and deeply soul-stirring arrangements.
Brandes often recalls the emotionally charged moment in Munich in 1983, only minutes before they walked onto the Eurovision stage:
“Nancy, we must win on this cursed ground.” (Ofra Haza to Nancy Brandes, minutes before taking the stage)
For Brandes, standing on that stage beside Ofra was far more than a professional milestone — it was the realization of a deeply personal dream. As he later described it, for a Romanian musician arriving at Eurovision, the experience felt almost unreal, “as if I touched the sky.” In his memories, Ofra remained not only an extraordinary performer, but also a person of rare discipline and uncompromising professionalism, whose humility stayed intact even as she rose to international fame and became a global star.
✱ 1983 | Akharei ha-Khagim (Ofra Haza and Avi Toledano Duet) – Arrangement of the successful duet with Avi Toledano, featuring a warm and rich Israeli-pop sound.
✱ 1983 | Chai (Pre-Eurovision and Eurovision) – The shared peak moment where Nancy arranged the song and conducted the German orchestra live.
✱ 1983 | Vas, Vas, Vas / Frei / High – Arrangement of the international versions of Chai.
✱ 1988 | Shvil Tapu’ach HaZahav – A delicate ballad arranged by Brandes for Ofra on the very eve of her major international breakthrough with the album Shaday.
