Cer THE Z/P. John Tanasychuk, Detroit Free Press, January 8th, 1999 • Pasta Specialties • Pizza • Steaks• Chops • Poultry • Seafood • Cocktails Baritone Cantor Thom King, also a composer and recording artist, and Cantor Fredda Rakusin Mendelson, an opera performer recognized worldwide for her dramatic mezzo repertoire, will join Cantors Harold Orbach and Lori Corssin of Temple Israel in the performance of "Souls on Fire." OPEN DAILY - LUNCH & DINNER OPEN WEEKDAYS UNTIL 2:00 AM WEEKENDS UNTIL 3:30 AM for the synagogue and some orchestral music. This proved to me that I was capable of writing music on [a larger] scale. It's 70 minutes long and has full orchestra, full chorus, operatic-style soloists and spoken parts." While the rest of the recording team traveled to be with the Bulgarian National Symphony and Chorus in their home territory, Nimoy did his narration in a New York studio. The former Star Trek performer has done other religion- based recordings and appearances work- ing with the Western Wind Ensemble. He also was host of Jewish Short Stories porn Eastern Europe and Beyond, a series on National Public Radio. "The oratorio is very uplifting, spiri- tual and powerful, and it gives me a great feeling of connection to Jewish history," says Nimoy, who grew up in an Orthodox home in Massachusetts and now is a member of a Reform temple in Los Angeles. "I don't consider myself spiritually or politically connected to Chasidism, but I have respect for all forms of Judaism. I admire the Chasids' passion and love of God and Torah. It all moves me." Rabbi Bennett, who was active with theater programs in high school and college and was part of an improvisa- tional theater group, also feels con- nected to the stories that make up the oratorio, although his religious obser- vance is not connected to the Chasidic movement today. "The piece is very spiritually uplift- ing and inspiring," says Bennett, who believes he has special stage experience in the rabbinate, which, he says, brings drama through prayers and pre- sentations on the bimah. "Cantor Orbach asked me to be a narrator because he knew of my background, and I'm very glad that he did. I've never done an oratorio," Bennett adds. A very different experience comes through Rakusin Mendelson, whose voice is on the recording and who has performed the piece in Boston. "The stories in the oratorio are interesting, and the music is beauti- ful," she says. "With the narrators, soloists and orchestra, the piece is quite varied, and there are some move- ments that I wish would go on longer. "The Chasidic beliefs today are very different from mine, but I want to respect them and hope that my beliefs will be respected by others." Osborne, who performs as a narra- tor on the recording and wrote the environmental cantata Tree of Lift, thinks of this work as a link to the past for all Jews regardless of belief or worship preferences. He wants non- Jews to get an appreciation of Jewish heritage and creativity. "I hope that audiences will come away with an appreciation that the [people being depicted] were real peo- ple living in real times with real emo- tions — the same as us. I want audi- ences to empathize with the people described in the oratorio." ❑ Souls on Fire will be presented 3 p.m. Sunday, April 1, at Temple Israel, 5725 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield. The program is being presented as the annual Harry Laker Memorial Concert and is co-sponsored by the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit and Temple Israel's Couples Club. For complimentary tickets, call (248) 661-5700. c Itab • an-American 011I0 9S Family Restaurant Woodward at 9 Mile (248) 548-5005 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * STAR DELI IS ONE OF THE BEST CARRY OUT ONLY RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA! (248) 352-7377 TRY OUR DELICIOUS HOMEMADE POTATO SALAD & COLE SLAW! EVERYBODY KNOWS WE HAVE THE BEST HOMEMADE TUNA IN TOWN! WE CH OUR LOX BY HAND! OUR HOMEMADE FAT-FREE TUNA ALSO CAN'T BE BEAT! OPEN 7 DAYS M-SAT. 7 AM TO 10 PM SUN. 7 AM TO 10 PM r OUR TRAYS CAN'T BE BEAT FOR QUALITY & PRICE! MEAT AND DAIRY TRAYS $5°° OFF ON OUR BEAUTIFUL ALREADY LOW-PRICED MEAT OR DAIRY TRAYS WITH THIS COUPON • Not Good Holidays DELIVERY • 10 Person Minimum AVAILABLE • Expires 12-31-01 • One Per Customer LET US CATER YOUR NEXT AFFAIR 24555 W. 12 MILE, Just West of Telegraph, Southfield * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * (248) 352-7377 3/23 2001 83