KlezCalendar

The 20th century witnessed a golden age of Yiddish poetry, which in turn inspired many great composers to create musical settings to be interpreted by the great artists of the day. This unique and particularly expressive genre of Jewish music will be celebrated and performed by some of New York's most beloved Cantors, one of the world's premiere Yiddish vocal ensembles, and an instrumental ensemble led by one of the world's most illustrious Klezmer violinists, in a gala concert on the second night of The New York Jewish Music and Heritage Festival.

The distinguished Cantors who will perform selections from the rich Yiddish Art Song repertoire represent some of New York’s most active synagogues, and are all noted figures in the Cantorial community and in the Jewish music world in general. are: Robert Abelson, Senior Cantor of Temple Israel in Manhattan; Lawrence Avery, Cantor Emeritus of Beth El Synagogue Center in New Rochelle, NY; Ida Rae Cahana, Senior Cantor of Central Synagogue in Manhattan; Lori Corrsin, Senior Cantor of Temple Emanu-El, Manhattan; Rebecca Garfein, Senior Cantor of Congregation Rodeph Sholom in Manhattan; Cantor Jacob Ben-Zion Mendelson, Senior Cantor of Temple Israel Center in White Plains, NY; Martha Novick, Senior Cantor of Temple Emanu-El in Westfield, CT; Dan Rous, Cantor of 92nd Street Y High Holy Day services.

Zalmen Mlotek, who is curator and musical director of this historic recital, is a widely recognized authority in Yiddish music and culture. He is currently Executive Director of the Folksbiene Yiddish Theater, and musical director of the New Yiddish Chorale, which will also perform at this important concert. For 2 decades, he has also been musical director of the High Holy Day services at the 92nd Street Y, and bridges the worlds of liturgical and Yiddish music, as do the Cantors who will join him at the Y on September 8. Mr. Mlotek has performed with some of the legends of Yiddish Art music, including Sidor Belarsky, Masha Benya, Seymour Rechtseit, and many others.

Alicia Svigals, considered by many to be the world's greatest klezmer fiddler. She is a founder of the Klezmatics and of her current group, the all-star Klezmer ensemble Mikveh. As a musician and composer, she has worked closely with Itzhak Perlman, the Kronos Quartet, Tony Kushner, Chava Alberstein, Debbie Friedman and many other major cultural figures.

The concert will feature a wide range of Yiddish Art Music, including composed songs and arranged folk songs both in solos and duets and trios, choral works, and instrumental string works.

Yiddish Art music can trace its linage to St. Peterburg, Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. Under the tutelage of Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, and composers Yoel Engel and Ephraim Skliar a circle of Yiddish Art music developed. This led, in 1908, to the founding of the St. Petersburg Society of Jewish Folk Music, and a later branch in Moscow. After the Russian Revolution, in 1918, the composers and performers of Yiddish Art Music travelled throughout Europe and to America. Well known composers of Yiddish Art Music include; Joseph Achron, Moses Milner, Mordkhe Gebirtig, Gideon Klein in Europe, and Lazar Weiner, Michl Gelbart, Vladimir Heifetz, Solomon Golub, and Leo Low.

Moishe Rosenfeld, the president of Golden Land Concerts and Connections, will produce the concert. Mr. Rosenfeld has produced hundreds of concerts in New York including the recent Neil Sedaka & the Klezmatics benefit concert for the Folksbiene at Carnegie Hall. His agency represents a cross-section of leading Jewish performing artists in America and Israel.

The First Annual New York Jewish Music and Heritage Festival will be presented from September 7 through September 14, marking the 350th anniversary of the Jewish community in America, and consisting of over 50 concerts in over 15 venues.

Tickets for A Cantorial Celebration of Yiddish Art Song are $30, and $125 for VIP seating with reception. Tickets are available at www.92y.org/350 or through the 92nd Street Y Box Office at 212-415-5500.