British Friends of The Hebrew University

Kaddish Commemorative Concert

Organised by the Holocaust Centre and the Aegis Trust, one of the most moving compositions of the 20th Century forms the centre piece of the evening commemorating the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht. Leonard Bernstein's Symphony No.3 (Kaddish) with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Axelrod, Samuel Pisar, narrator, Kelley Nassief, soprano, Philharmonia Chorus and Trinity Boys Choir will follow a performance of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto with Israeli violinist Ittai Shapira.

Speaker, wine and refreshments 6pm in the Lecture Theatre, City of London School for Girls, St Giles Terrace, Barbican, London, EC2Y 8BB. Click here to see map.

Otto Deutsch reflects his own personal experiences of life in Vienna during Kristallnacht.

Concert 7.30pm in the Barbican Hall, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Click here to see map.

Ticket price including concert, refreshments & talk £50 (Stalls)

For more information please contact Tara on 020 7691 1475 or tara.sassoon@bfhu.org

The Lucerne Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1806 and has been recognised as a significant contributor to Lucerne’s reputation as a city of Music. The orchestra has developed an original and unique repertoire, acquiring international reputation:

John Axelrod, conductor

Ittai Shapira, violin

Samuel Pisar, speaker

Kelley Nassief, soprano

Philharmonia Chorus

Trinity Boys Choir

Programme:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Overture, Egmont

Felix Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor

Interval

Leonard Bernstein Symphony No. (3) (Kaddish)

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) The anti-tyrant theme in Egmont with its destiny and coming freedom, underlines the overall theme of the concert.

The music of Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847) was banned after 1933 by Hitler, on racial grounds, along with all other Jewish composers.

Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) was especially proud of his Jewish heritage. His ambitious Kaddish Symphony, while originally composed in response to the assassination of President Kennedy, is nowadays performed to a new text written at Bernstein’s request by Samuel Pisar, a Holocaust survivor. It reflects his own terrible experiences in the death camps. This will be an exclusive opportunity to hear Samuel Pisar deliver his moving narrative.