Evento

Old Songs for a New Year: The Izba, the Shtibl and the Global Village

experience voices that were made to sing together
Ari Davidow, The Klezmershack

Lorin Sklamberg voice, guitar, accordion, piano (New York, USA)
Polina Shepherd voice, piano (Brighton, UK)
with special guests Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble

A celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, The Izba, the Shtibl and the Global Village is a melange of Russian and Yiddish song and Klezmer music featuring Lorin Sklamberg, the lead singer of NYC's Grammy winning Klezmatics, and a Siberian-born British singer and pianist Polina Skovoroda Shepherd.

This intimate concert program showcases Russian romances, folk and Soviet melodies in Yiddish, bilingual songs from the Odessa underground, Russian lyrics put to klezmer tunes, Soviet collective farm songs from a century ago, and original material exploring the connection between the steppes and the shtetl.

LORIN SKLAMBERG is the lead singer of the Grammy winning Klezmatics, and a leading exponent of Yiddish song and traditional Jewish vocal techniques. The legendary music critic Robert Christgau has described Lorin Sklambergs voice as transcendent, ethereal and sensual, Since he co-founded the legendary klezmer group in 1986, Sklamberg has been on the receiving end of countless tributes of that naturehis crystalline, expressive vocalizing never fails to have an emotional impact on all within its range.

He has also worked for the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research for almost 25 years, currently as its Sound Archivist. For 14 years he was the coordinator of KlezKamp: The Yiddish Folk Arts Program, and co-founded Living Traditions. Lorin can be heard on some 50 CDs, and also composes and performs for film, dance, stage and produces recordings. (http://klezmatics.com/about/members/lorin-sklamberg/)

POLINA SKOVORODA SHEPHERD
Whilst living in Kazan (capital of Tatarstan, Russia) and studying at the State Academy, Polina joined Simka, Russias first klezmer band after Perestroika. Simkha toured in dark Soviet theatres, and played to Boris Yeltsin and the world from 1998-2002.

She is one of the first generation of musicians of the Yiddish revival scene in Eastern Europe. Acting as a program director, educator and performer, she has been involved in festivals, conferences, and seminars around the world.

Now living in Britain, Polina leads four choirs and continues to tour internationally as a Yiddish and Russian singer. Her compositions, including music for theatre, large and small scale choir pieces and other vocal settings for Yiddish poems are performed by soloists and choirs all over the world. (http://www.polinashepherd.co.uk/)

KITKA WOMEN'S VOCAL ENSEMBLE
Inspired by the exquisite and unusual harmony traditions of Eastern Europe, Kitka has earned international recognition for its ravishing sound and unique repertoire. Kitka has collaborated with some of the worlds most exciting indigenous musicians and contemporary composers. ranging from Le Mystères des Voix Bulgares to Meredith Monk.

Kitka's wide-ranging performance, teaching, and recording activities have exposed millions to the haunting beauty of their unique repertoire. (www.kitka.org)

Izba: (Russian) A traditional country side dwelling
Shtibl: (Yiddish) A small house used for communal prayer

NOTE: Sklamberg and Shepherd will present a Yiddish and Russian Singing Workshop on
Saturday, September 23, from 10:30am - 1:30pm
at Silk Road House, 1944 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA
for more information on this workshop, visit www.kitka.org.

This program is supported, in part, by grants from WESTAF, The California Arts Council, and The City of Oakland Cultural Funding Program.