People from many local communities, as well as overseas guests, were streaming into the stately Immaculata Hall of the Magnificat Institute in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City in late afternoon sunshine. The occasion was “The Sound of Peace” concert on Sunday May 25.
The Hamburg Physicians’ Orchestra, conducted by Thilo Jaques, is an amateur orchestra in which most of its players are doctors. In existence for over 40 years, it travels the world performing concerts, promoting the belief that music overcomes political barriers. They opened the concert with three orchestral works. Czech composer Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) used folk melodies and rhythms from his native Bohemia and Moravia in his works. His Bohemian Suite, Opus 39, composed in 1879, was given a colorful, contrasted reading. Finnish Romantic composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) composed his “Valse Triste”, Opus 44, as incidental music to “Kuolema” (Death), a drama written by Arvid Jarnefelt. The piece was later used as a concert piece. The woodwind section gave a pleasing performance in this work. The orchestra then presented Joseph Haydn’s (1732-1809) Symphony no. 99. Completed in London in 1793, it is the first Haydn symphony to be scored for clarinets. The audience enjoyed the contrasts and Haydnesque lightness and humor of their performance.
In the second part of the concert, the orchestra was joined by the Alei Gefen Chorus of Tel Aviv and the Choir of the Custody of the Holy Land. They opened with W.A.Mozart’s (1756-1791) Kyrie in d minor KV 341 (1781). The choirs blended in a warm, full choral sound to the delight of the audience. We then heard Franz Schubert’s (1797-1828) Stabat Mater in g minor D.175, composed in 1815, possibly the most prolific year of the composer’s life. A largely homophonic (in parallel rhythms) work, the lushness of this Romantic choral work was evident together with finer details, in particular, well-crafted phrase endings. The orchestra tended to play a little too loudly at times. French composer Gabriel Faure (1845-1924) composed his delicate and elegant but, by no means harmonically unadventurous Pavane Opus 50, premiered in 1888, for orchestra and optional chorus. The choirs performed this fragrant and haunting work with French charm.
The Alei Gefen Chorus of Tel Aviv, conducted by its musical director Eli Gefen, performed two a cappella (unaccompanied) works. The first was Cantor David Grosz’ setting of the Hebrew prayer “Tabernacle of Peace”. This fine work, composed by Eli Gefen’s father, was recently discovered in Austria. Cantor Grosz perished in Auschwitz. The piece is written in the grand style of European Jewish choral music. Varied in texture, it is powerful and emotional. Tenor Ronen Lazarov’s solo was gripping and moving. His singing is effortless, his voice rich and golden. Baritone Vladimir Linetsky performed a smaller but pleasing solo. American composer, Randall Thompson’s (1899-1984), anthem “Alleluia” was commissioned for the opening of the Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood. The Alei Gefen Chorus with its rich palette of dynamic and vocal color, gave a sensitive and expressive reading of this work.
The Choir of the Custody of the Holy Land, conducted by Hania Soudah-Sabbara, sang two lovely, unaccompanied pieces, both based on traditional melodies – “Rabbi Athimaton” and “Annada Nadda” - both arranged by members of the choir. The choir is impressive in its joy of singing as well as its blend of good voices and accuracy.
The evening’s program ended with Johannes Brahms’ (1833-1897) Hungarian Dance no.6, played by the HPO.
Eli Gefen then conducted audience and choirs in the “Dona nobis pacem” canon, a fitting and uplifting end to the evening. People’s voices became mingled with those of church bells, reminding us of where we had all assembled for this special event. The program was varied and interesting. However, less orchestral music and more choral works might have made for better balance.
“The Sound of Peace”
The Hamburg Physicians’ Orchestra, conductor Thilo Jaques
The Alei Gefen Chorus of Tel Aviv, conductor Eli Gefen
The Choir of the Custody of the Holy Land, conductor Hania Soudah Sabbara
The Immaculata Hall, Magnificat Institute, Jerusalem
May 25, 2008.
Showing posts with label Alei Gefen Choir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alei Gefen Choir. Show all posts
Monday, May 26, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Daniel Pearl,Homage to a Life
Daniel Pearl was bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal in Karachi, Pakistan. An excellent journalist, curious and willing to engage in dialogue, he was there investigating fundamentalism. He was kidnapped in January 2002 and beheaded nine days later. In the horrific video film of his last minutes, Daniel affirms his Jewishness with calm conviction. Three months later, Adam Daniel Pearl was born, a child who would never have the privilege of knowing his father.
Daniel was also a musician and his parents, Judea and Ruth Pearl have established the “World Music Days”, a series of concerts celebrating Pearl in more than 60 cities. To quote Ruth and Judea Pearl:
“Certain kinds of music cannot be silenced.
The music of truth and honesty cannot be silenced.
The music of freedom and human dignity cannot be silenced.
The music of the Jewish journey cannot be silenced.”
The first Jerusalem Daniel Pearl memorial concert – “Daniel Pearl – Homage to a Life” was held October 20 at Kol Haneshama Synagogue. After greetings from Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman, we heard veteran broadcaster, reporter and tireless outreach-worker Freda Keet talk about Daniel Pearl, his work, his story and his exceptional personality.
The Tel Aviv-based Alei Gefen Chorus performed an evening of mostly Jewish choral works. This very fine choir of wonderful voices and musicality , formed in 1990 by its conductor - violinist, baritone and bassoonist- Eli Gefen, aims to use devotional music as an instrument of tolerance and understanding to deliver a message of reconciliation between faiths and peoples.
Cantor David Grosz, Eli Gefen’s father, perished in the Holocaust, probably in Auschwitz. The manuscript of his “Tabernacle of Peace” for choir and solo tenor was discovered in Vienna four years ago. This piece is reminiscent of the luxuriant and emotional 19th century style of choral synagogue music. Tenor Ronen Lazaroff, a choir member, sang the solo magnificently. Of similar style, Louis Lewandowski’s “Alleluia”, celebrating musical instruments and praise, was well layered, rich in harmonies and joyful.
Two important classical Israeli composers were represented: Paul Ben-Chaim – Psalm 121- and Yehezkiel Braun – Hallelujah, Psalm 111. Both pieces are challenging and use harmonies that are an integral and Israeli part of their works. In the realm of “Israeli song”, we heard beautiful arrangements of Naomi Shemer’s “Jerusalem of Gold” and David Zehavi’s “Eli, Eli”, both performed with artistry and fine choral musicianship. Soprano Svetlana Babajanoff’s solo in the latter was very moving.
In Franz Schubert’s setting of Psalm 23 “The Lord is my Shepherd” – a very suitable text for the event – I enjoyed the group’s choral blending and excellent diction. It was unusual to hear this work sung by mixed choir and also sung in Hebrew!
American composer, educator and conductor Randall Thompson (1899-1984) was best known for his choral music. Among his students was Leonard Bernstein. The Alei Gefen chorus gave us a very sensitive and well-crafted reading of Thompson’s anthem - “Aleluia”. The program ended on a calm note with John Rutter’s (b.1945, UK) “The Lord bless you and keep you” (Psalm 67); Eli Gefen then invited the audience to join the choir in the singing of “Eli, Eli” and “Jerusalem of Gold”. These moments of togetherness were a fitting ending to this significant event in Jerusalem.
Daniel Pearl – Homage to a Life
Alei Gefen Chorus, Tel Aviv
Eli Gefen – conductor and artistic director
Kehilat Kol Haneshama
October 20, 2007–10–22
Daniel was also a musician and his parents, Judea and Ruth Pearl have established the “World Music Days”, a series of concerts celebrating Pearl in more than 60 cities. To quote Ruth and Judea Pearl:
“Certain kinds of music cannot be silenced.
The music of truth and honesty cannot be silenced.
The music of freedom and human dignity cannot be silenced.
The music of the Jewish journey cannot be silenced.”
The first Jerusalem Daniel Pearl memorial concert – “Daniel Pearl – Homage to a Life” was held October 20 at Kol Haneshama Synagogue. After greetings from Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman, we heard veteran broadcaster, reporter and tireless outreach-worker Freda Keet talk about Daniel Pearl, his work, his story and his exceptional personality.
The Tel Aviv-based Alei Gefen Chorus performed an evening of mostly Jewish choral works. This very fine choir of wonderful voices and musicality , formed in 1990 by its conductor - violinist, baritone and bassoonist- Eli Gefen, aims to use devotional music as an instrument of tolerance and understanding to deliver a message of reconciliation between faiths and peoples.
Cantor David Grosz, Eli Gefen’s father, perished in the Holocaust, probably in Auschwitz. The manuscript of his “Tabernacle of Peace” for choir and solo tenor was discovered in Vienna four years ago. This piece is reminiscent of the luxuriant and emotional 19th century style of choral synagogue music. Tenor Ronen Lazaroff, a choir member, sang the solo magnificently. Of similar style, Louis Lewandowski’s “Alleluia”, celebrating musical instruments and praise, was well layered, rich in harmonies and joyful.
Two important classical Israeli composers were represented: Paul Ben-Chaim – Psalm 121- and Yehezkiel Braun – Hallelujah, Psalm 111. Both pieces are challenging and use harmonies that are an integral and Israeli part of their works. In the realm of “Israeli song”, we heard beautiful arrangements of Naomi Shemer’s “Jerusalem of Gold” and David Zehavi’s “Eli, Eli”, both performed with artistry and fine choral musicianship. Soprano Svetlana Babajanoff’s solo in the latter was very moving.
In Franz Schubert’s setting of Psalm 23 “The Lord is my Shepherd” – a very suitable text for the event – I enjoyed the group’s choral blending and excellent diction. It was unusual to hear this work sung by mixed choir and also sung in Hebrew!
American composer, educator and conductor Randall Thompson (1899-1984) was best known for his choral music. Among his students was Leonard Bernstein. The Alei Gefen chorus gave us a very sensitive and well-crafted reading of Thompson’s anthem - “Aleluia”. The program ended on a calm note with John Rutter’s (b.1945, UK) “The Lord bless you and keep you” (Psalm 67); Eli Gefen then invited the audience to join the choir in the singing of “Eli, Eli” and “Jerusalem of Gold”. These moments of togetherness were a fitting ending to this significant event in Jerusalem.
Daniel Pearl – Homage to a Life
Alei Gefen Chorus, Tel Aviv
Eli Gefen – conductor and artistic director
Kehilat Kol Haneshama
October 20, 2007–10–22
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