(AMHERST, Mass.) – The Strauss-Warschauer Duo, featuring world-renowned klezmer musicians Deborah Strauss and Jeff Warschauer, will perform at the Yiddish Book Center on Sunday, October 20, 2013, at 2pm, as part of the center’s day-long annual Community Open House. The day’s events, which are free and open to the public, include guided tours of the center’s many exhibits, a roundtable discussion with contributors to the recently published Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary and Choosing Yiddish: New Frontiers of Yiddish Language and Culture, as well as an update from Aaron Lansky, president and founder of the Yiddish Book Center.
For over 25 years, Deborah Strauss and Jeff Warschauer have been at the forefront of the international klezmer and Yiddish music scene. They are renowned worldwide for their depth of experience and knowledge, and for their innovative performances, residencies, and workshops. But above all, they are beloved as individuals and as a couple for their ability to inspire and empower people of every age, background and ability.
Deborah Strauss and Jeff Warschauer were both longtime members of the Klezmer Conservatory Band, one of the premiere groups of the klezmer revival, and have performed with legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman on film and in concert. Now in their 18th year as the Strauss/Warschauer Duo, they have performed to overwhelming acclaim in such diverse venues as the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Great Britain’s Fiddles on Fire, the Jewish Culture Festival in Cracow, Poland, and the Art of Yiddish in Los Angeles with actor and singer Theodore Bikel.
Deborah and Jeff are Yiddish speakers, and have researched and collected Yiddish and Hebrew songs and instrumental melodies since the 1980s. They lead some of the most popular klezmer music, Yiddish song and traditional dance workshops throughout North America, and Eastern and Western Europe. Both teach regularly at KlezKamp: The Yiddish Folk Arts Program, KlezKanada, Yiddish Summer Weimar, and the Warsaw International Summer Seminar in Yiddish Language and Culture.
The day’s events are free and open to the public. The Yiddish Book Center will be open from 10am to 4pm; guided tours will be offered at 11am and 1pm. Visitors can grab lunch at the Falafel Tent, where Yosi Kosher catering will be serving their renowned falafels.