THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20
7:30 PM
FOCUS CONCERT
"SOUNDS OF PRAYER"
Shmuel BARZILAI, Baritone
Paul GULDA, Piano
PROGRAM:
Mendelssohn, Koffler, Loew, Ravel, Elstein, Rubin, Zim et alii
THE LEO BAECK INSTITUTE NEW YORK AND THE ACF PRESENT:
A CONCERT WITH SHMUEL BARZILAI, CANTOR OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE VIENNA, AND PAUL GULDA, PIANO
This special program with cantor Shmuel Barzilai and pianist Paul Gulda introduces traditional and contemporary prayers. Transcending the here and now by referring to past events and memories, it evokes visions for a better future with a hopeful smile. Liturgical-cantorial works include compositions by Mendelssohn, Koffler, Loew,
and others. A lighter, more folkloristic selection will feature works by composers such as Ravel, Elstein, Zim, and Rubin as well as traditional Hebrew songs. Piano
solo pieces add to the eclectic line up.
Cantor Shmuel Barzilai was born in Jerusalem, Israel. He received his basic education from the Viennese Cantor Zalman Polak and graduated from the INSTITUTE OF MUSIC AND CANTORAL SINGING in Tel Aviv. Since 1992 Shmuel Barzilai has been Chief Cantor of the Vienna Jewish Community. Barzilai has sung with philharmonic and symphonic orchestras throughout Europe, Israel and the U.S.A.
Paul Gulda was born 1961 in Vienna. Gulda took his first piano lessons with Roland Batik. Later he read recorder and clarinet at Vienna's Music Academy. His piano
studies continued with his father Friedrich Gulda, Leonid Brumberg, and finally with Rudolf Serkin in Vermont, USA. Since then he has been performing recitals as well as with orchestras throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas.
