{"id":106911,"date":"2024-08-19T10:23:41","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T14:23:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=106911"},"modified":"2024-08-22T09:31:09","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T13:31:09","slug":"preview-2024-ashekenaz-festival-offers-glimpse-diversity-jewish-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/08\/19\/preview-2024-ashekenaz-festival-offers-glimpse-diversity-jewish-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | The 2024 Ashkenaz Festival Offers A Glimpse Of The Diversity Of Jewish Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_106913\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-106913\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-106913\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/Copy-of-CRITICS-PICKS-65.jpg\" alt=\"L-R (clockwise): Socalled (minus his Big Band) (Photo courtesy of the artist); Kosher gospel artist Joshua Nelson (Photo courtesy of the artist); Jacob\u2019s Ladder bluegrass band (Photo courtesy of the artists)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/Copy-of-CRITICS-PICKS-65.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/Copy-of-CRITICS-PICKS-65-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/Copy-of-CRITICS-PICKS-65-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/Copy-of-CRITICS-PICKS-65-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-106913\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">L-R (clockwise): Socalled (minus his Big Band) (Photo courtesy of the artist); Kosher gospel artist Joshua Nelson (Photo courtesy of the artist); Jacob\u2019s Ladder bluegrass band (Photo courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Ashkenaz Festival returns to Toronto\u2019s Harbourfront from August 27 to September 2. The majority (90%) of the Festival\u2019s offerings are free to the public, and attract audiences numbering about 60,000 people each year.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the musical acts incorporate Jewish elements with many others in a global fusion blend, like Jacob\u2019s Ladder and their Jewish-infused bluegrass, or Joshua Nelson, the kosher gospel artist.<\/p>\n<p>We spoke to Ashkenaz Festival artistic producer and curator Eric Stein about this year\u2019s offerings.<\/p>\n<p>Excerpt from the final moments of the North American premiere performance of the Yiddish opera Bas Sheve on August 31, 2022 at Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto as part of the 2022 Ashkenaz Festival:<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4RPrzKIEWvI?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h2>Eric Stein: Ashkenaz Festival 2024<\/h2>\n<p>The Ashkenaz Festival was originally founded as a kind of showcase for Klezmer music and Yiddish culture. A look at the lineup for the 2024 festival, however, shows an eclectic roster of artists and culture that represents not only the traditions of Eastern European Jews, but also Sephardic, Mizrachi and Israeli culture, and well beyond.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s something that people don\u2019t understand that level of diversity,\u201d says Ashkenaz Festival artistic producer and curator Eric Stein. It\u2019s part of the fun of putting it together \u2014 finding aspects of the Jewish experience that people don\u2019t realize exist.\u201cTo represent the festival on a cultural level, especially with music, we really go to town with that aspect.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Diversity has historical roots. \u201cWhen you think about it from a historical aspect, it makes sense,\u201d he says. Certainly, the Jewish diaspora stretches across the globe along with the Jewish people looking to make their homes. \u201cIn so doing, as musicians and artists, they have borrowed from their host culture, and influenced their host culture,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n<p>The Festival has expanded each year without moving from its core values. \u201cThat founding mission of the festival is still very much at the core.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The name itself \u2014 Ashkenaz refers specifically to Jewish culture from Eastern Europe \u2014 may be a little misleading at this point, but there really isn\u2019t a useful alternative. As Stein explains, when the Festival was founded in the 90s, it was during what was about the third wave of the klezmer revival. The music was no longer a vehicle for nostalgia, but becoming a wellspring for creating contemporary works.<\/p>\n<p>The artists, as he points out, do pay attention to the traditions and history behind their work \u2014 traditions that may be in a state of fragility due to historical oppression.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey require care and curation,\u201d Stein says.<\/p>\n<p>Music plays a large role in Jewish culture, and in the Festival \u201cIt\u2019s played a key role in the Jewish peoples\u2019 experience because it channels emotions.\u201d It\u2019s also a universal language, as he points out.<\/p>\n<p>The multi-generational roster of artists, and the multicultural nature of the audiences each year, tell him that it\u2019s an effort that is valued. \u201cDiversity is hip these days,\u201d he laughs. \u201cIt\u2019s really nice that we don\u2019t have to stretch that hard to find that,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI feel that the festival serves a really important role in giving the public a way to experience Jewish culture,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019re making it accessible to the largest possible audience.\u201d He underscores the cultural, and non-political, emphasis of the program.<\/p>\n<h2>Festival Highlights<\/h2>\n<h3>The Golden Septet (August 17)<\/h3>\n<p>Golden Thread Septet presents Yiddish Songs of Social Change through the 20th century. New arrangements by Craig Judelman provide the music for songs about women\u2019s rights, the secular vs. the religious movements, and more, in a blend of styles from contemporary art ensemble to fiddle kapelye. Performers include Yiddish vocalists Lorin Sklamberg and Sasha Lurje, and string players Craig Judelman Cookie Segelstein, Abigale Reisman, Kirsten Lamb, and Raffi Boden.<\/p>\n<h3>In the Footsteps of Zimro (August 29)<\/h3>\n<p>Just after WWI, musical ensembles toured Europe, often with nationalistic themes to their program.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJewish musicians began waking up to that,\u201d Eric says.<\/p>\n<p>Clarinetist David Krakauer recreates one such historic Jewish group, the Zimro Ensemble, a sextet of Russian-Jewish musicians who toured the world. They championed classical music with Jewish themes, and performed the work of composers like Alexander Krein, Solomon Rosowsky, and Sergei Prokofiev.<\/p>\n<h3>Schmaltz and Pepper (September 1)<\/h3>\n<p>New group Schmaltz and Pepper bring together\u00a0jazz, Roma, and European folk music, and perform it classical sensibilities and virtuosity. Their lineup features Toronto Symphony principal clarinetist Eric Abramovitz, Grammy-nominated Drew Jurecka on violin\/accordion\/mandolin, Juno-winning pianist Jeremy Ledbetter, award-winning bassist Michael Herring, and Payadora violinist\/vocalist Rebekah Wolkstein.<\/p>\n<p>Read the LvT review of their recent performance at Toronto Summer Music <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/07\/24\/scrutiny-schmaltz-pepper-wow-sold-crowd-toronto-summer-music-debut\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find out more about the Ashkenaz Festival [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ashkenaz.ca\/ashkenaz-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? Have a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/masthead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>news tip<\/u><\/a>? Need to know the best\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>events<\/u><\/a>\u00a0happening this weekend? Send us a\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"mailto:anya@ludwig-van.com?subject=Let's%20chat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em><u>note<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em><b>#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n<p class=\"western\"><em>Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em>Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! \u2014 local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid=S3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid%3DS3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1695737525351000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QTqKRwRJQFGK3KoJYigxX\">HERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ashekenaz Festival returns to Toronto from August 27 to September 2, offering a chance to experience the diversity of global Jewish culture.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":106913,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[40967,76,19,32,4557,59,63,72],"tags":[41412,41410,20814,4091,41354,41249],"yst_prominent_words":[14729,7412,12857,14728],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/Copy-of-CRITICS-PICKS-65.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-rOn","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106911"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106911"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106911\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107027,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106911\/revisions\/107027"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/106913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=106911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106911"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=106911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}