FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE from page 71

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nominated for a Grammy.
"Their commitment is to
being active and catalytic in
The klezmer musicians from the former Soviet
their Jewish communities,
Union featured in this year's Yiddish Concert
and they have enormous
in the Park staged by WOrkmen's
attachment to Jewish culture.
Circle/Arbeter Ring, Michigan District include:
For the most parr, they're
Leonid Sonts, leader of the Simcha
young, in their late teens and
Klezmer Band and former member of the
early 20s, and they're drawn
State Symphonic Orchestra of Tartarstan
from as far away as Siberia.
Alina Ivakh, Simcha singer and TV host
Participants are taught in
on Tartarstan State TV
Yiddish translated into
Eduard Nurullin, Simcha's cellist and per-
Russian in this program,
former with the State Cinematography
which is sponsored by the
Orchestra of Tartarstan
JCC (Jewish Community
Mikhail Khatilin, clarinetist, Simcha artis-
Center) of St. Petersburg and
tic director, organizer of the klezmer group
the Jewish World Service."
Alevai and teacher at Tula's musical college
These musicians "are
Pavel Balin, trumpet and tuba player for-
extraordinary in that they are
merly associated with the Alevai Klezmer Band
coming to the music with a
Maria Yakubovich, singer-guitarist and
fresh approach," adds
concert organizer
Mlotek, a pianist who
Marina Lebenson, pianist, accompanist,
brought Yiddish klezmer
composer and organizer of the Maz1Tov
music to Broadway, off-
Klezmer Band
Broadway and Michigan as
Eugene Khazdan, composer and artistic
co-creator, music director and
director of Jewish music festivals
conductor of Those Were the
Anzhela Pikhut, touring singer
Days. That production, the
Yefem Chorny, artistic director and soloist
first bilingual musical hon-
of the Jewish Song Theater in Kishinev
ored with a Drama Desk
Award, received two Tony
Award nominations.
on the faculty of the Academy of
"Because these performers come
Jewish Religion and teaches master
classes in Yiddish song.
from a place where Yiddish culture
had its strongest showing at the turn
Mlotek, director of arts program-
of the century, they have a special con-
ming at Workmen's Circle, has pro-
nection to the material. They are tap-
duced klezmer concerts and has done
ping into a language that they never
a klezmer festival for several years at
knew they had in them.
New,York's Lincoln Center in addition
"A_ lot of the music has not been
_to overseeing the longest continuously
heard before, certainly in these rendi-
operating Yiddish theater company in
tions. They've picked up the music
the world.
from their own research, and we make
Involved with the production All
suggestions."
Star Klezmer Extravaganza, released on
CD and video as In the Fiddler's House
Cooper and Mlotek, who will be
appearing as soloists, in duets and
with violinist Itzhak Perlman, he also
with the klezmer artists, also will pre-
has taught at the Yeshiva University
sent selections from their new CD,
Belz School of Music, Columbia
Ghetto Tango, theater music from the
University, the Jewish Theological
time .of World War II.
Seminary and Hebrew Union College.
Cooper's voice also currently is
"The concert that we're bringing to
heard on the recording Mikveh, with
Michigan will allow American audi-
the all-women klezmer band of the
ences to show Russian musicians that
same name. Selections were performed
they are not alone in their interest in
as part of the all-female production
klezmer music," Mlotek says. ❑
The Vagina Monologues, on stage with
Whoopi Goldberg, Susan Sarandon
The Yiddish Concert in the Park
and Winona Ryder, in a 1998 New
begins 7 p.m. Monday, July 10,
York performance.
in Charlotte Rothstein Park
Cooper, who had musical training
behind the Jewish Community
at Rubin Academy in Jerusalem and
Center's Jimmy Prentis Morris
earned degrees at Hebrew University
Building in Oak Park.
and the University of Chicago, was
Admission
is free. The audience
assistant director of the YIVO
is
asked
to
bring
folding chairs
Institute for Jewish Research, co-
and
blankets.
(248)
545-0985.
founding the Yiddish Folk Arts
Program, known as KlezKamp. She is

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