Ensemble Lebedik Presents

– קול ישא Women in Yiddish Song

Join an international trio of leading klezmer musicians featuring Berlin-based violinist Craig Judelman, Latvian-American accordionist Ilya Shneyveys and Minneapolis' percussionist, culture worker and songbird Sarah Larsson, celebrating women’s contributions to the rich and diverse legacy of Yiddish song and paying homage to those who paved the way for today’s flourishing global yiddish music scene. Highlighting the challenges of traditional life as well as the changes to the roles and opportunities available to women in Eastern European Jewish culture, this program features leading performers from the European and American klezmer scene presenting songs by and about Jewish women from the diverse canon of Yiddish song. After years touring with artists from Michael Alpert to the Klezmatics' Lorin Sklamberg, Alicia Svigals and Frank London, these artists represent the new vanguard of leadership at festivals and workshops across the globe.

Yiddish has often been called mame-loshn, or as we say in English, the “mother tongue” — both because of its role as the language spoken in the home and its connection to the songs, experiences, and aspirations of Ashkenazi Jewish women. When people think of Yiddish song, it’s often female performers of Yiddish theater hits such as the Barry Sisters, or more recently, Chava Alberstein, or maybe a nostalgic image of an old bubbe (grandmother) singing lullabies and chestnuts such as Mayn Shtetle Belz. While these are all wonderful, important associations, as with Ashkenazic culture in general, there is a rich history and body of work reflecting women’s experience that is generally underperformed and under-appreciated.

All Ages

$18-$30 Sliding Scale