D’Anna Fortunato
(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – The fifth annual Berkshire Summer Celebration of Jewish Music kicks of its 2014 season with “Jewish Romanticism: A Queen, Korngold, Copland and Klezmer” at the Berkshire Music School on Sunday, June 1, 2014, at 3 p.m. Upcoming concerts will feature klezmer, poetry, dance, and Yiddish song.
“Jewish Romanticism: A Queen, Korngold, Copland and Klezmer” includes “Vashti, or the Whole Megillah,” by composer David Schiff, featuring mezzo soprano D’Anna Fortunato singing a dramatic, humorous and touching version of the Purim tale. She will also sing Jewish love songs by Erich Korngold. Cantor Bob Scherr will sing Hebrew and Yiddish tunes, and Paul Green will perform a clarinet sonata by Aaron Copland. Doris Stevenson is the pianist. Tickets are $18 and will be available at the door.
“My Heart is in the East: a concert of songs, stories, and dance interpretation, celebrating the land of Israel,” featuring readings, music and dance, takes place at Congregation Beth Israel in North Adams on Sunday, June 22, at 3pm., with poetry by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat and stories by Cantor Robert Scherr, intertwined with Jewish music and modern dance. The storytellers will be joined by clarinetist Paul Green, keyboardist Alan Gold, and modern dancer/choreographer Ellen Gorman. Tickets are $15 and available at the door.
Sherri James Buxton
“Give Me a Song and Dance” is the festival’s final program, on Sunday, July 27 at 8 p.m. at Knesset Israel, Pittsfield, featuring congregant-musicians of Temple Anshe Amunim and Knesset Israel, with dancing, food and drink. Vocalist Sherri James Buxton will be the featured performer, with clarinetist Paul Green, keyboardist Alan Gold and others.
These events are co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, Congregation Beth Israel, Congregation Knesset Israel, Temple Anshe Amunim and The Berkshire Music School. Supported in part by grants from the Pittsfield Cultural Council and the Northern Berkshire Cultural Council, which are local agencies supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.