Songs of Life Festival in Bulgaria and Israel

The Songs of Life Festival will be held in Israel and Bulgaria from Nov 21 - Dec 1, 2008. The festival will feature the Sacred Service by Ernest Bloch.

The festival marks the 65th anniversary of the heroic rescue of 50,000 Bulgarian Jews during World War II and serves as a celebration of the preservation of life.

Individual performers as well as choirs are invited to perform in the festival. Performers will sing Bloch s Sacred Service in Bulgaria and Israel. The 12-day itinerary also allows for individual presentations by guest choirs and opportunities for sightseeing and guided tours. Auditors are also invited to attend the festival and participate in the tours.

Please join in this celebration of thanksgiving that will impact generations to come. www.SongsOfLife.org

The website has information on how to join the tour, and information about the conductor, the organizers and the itinerary and costs, and planned concert performances. http://www.songsoflife.org/index.htm

Join Zamir Choral Foundation Tour of Israel

Join the Zamir Choral Foundation as it celebrates Israel's Birthday with a "Israel @ 60" Concert Tour & Mission for singers & non-singers for first-time and repeat visitors
August 10-17, 2008
Mission includes:
3 nights at the Carlton Hotel in Tel Aviv
♫ 3 nights at the Sheraton Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem
Hotels based on double occupancy (single occupancy option based on availability)
Guided tours of the North and South
Entrance fees
Presentations by leading Israeli experts
2 evening meals, Shabbat dinner, and daily Israeli breakfast
Daily concerts to include Jerusalem Theatre, Einav Center in Tel Aviv and other venues
Gratuities for meals listed above, bus drivers, tour guides and chamber maids Portage at hotels
Round trip flights on El Al and transfers to/from hotels
Application form and information available at the Zamir Choral Foundation web site:
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001qeBniz517doFLJwHYKOf1xqo3Maoy_Oxmcwn3SDulKAN6_9IeyU0kE2kU89BT1tlCCNP7Io1LdwRWwahina-mRHs5QSWKeEzsIGJEPKZhz2BRG9hW-3WGQ==
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS APRIL 1, 2008!
Questions? Email us at ZCFIsraelMission@aol.com

"Weinberger Tour"

"WEINBERGER TOUR" in Czech republic Czech cellist Frantisek Brikcius will appear with pianist Tomas Visek as part of the project "Weinberger Tour" with composition written by Jewish composers on the opening concert on Monday 23rd April 2007 in Spanish Synagogue in Prague and continuing on tour until 29 October 2007, 7.30 pm, Pálffy palace - final concert Černovice 3 November 2007, 7pm. The concert tour "Weinberger Tour" of the Czech cellist Frantisek Brikcius and Czech pianist Tomas Visek is in remembrance of Jewish composer, Jaromir Weinberger (1896 - 1967), who was born in Prague (40 years since his tragic death) and introducing to the audience lesser known works of Jewish "Terezín" composers. On the program are compositions written by Erwin Shulhoff (Sonata), James Simon (Lamento 1938 - Czech premiere), Irena Kosikova (d-Fence - premiere) and Jaromir Weinberger (Une cantilene jalouse & Colloque sentimental - arr. by F. Brikcius for cello and piano - premiere). The project is under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech republic and the Mayor of the City of Brno, Roman Onderka.

The project concerts are prepared in the cooperation with the Jewish Museum in Prague and they will be released in Prague (opening concert on Monday 23rd April 2007), Brno, Decin, Terezin, Teplice, Lidice, Nelahozeves, Boskovice, Breclav, ... and in Prague (closing concert 29th October) in 2007. The final concert in Prague will be documented for music magazine Terra Musica broadcasted by the Czech television (CT) in November. To read a complete listing of the concerts, and about the musicians, keep reading... The main goals of the projects are:
- Reminding the memory of Jewish composers, whose work has been in Auschwitz cut out with no mercy. They are "lost composer" James Simon (1880 - 1944) and Erwin Schulhoff (1894 - 1942).
- Jaromír Weinberger's (1896 - 1967) memory, in 2007 is 40 years since his tragically death.
- Presenting new compositions that are continuing in the tradition of above-mentioned composers. In this case represented by Czech composer and organist Irena Kosíková ("7Candles").
- To make this kind of music accessible to the larger audience. There is no entry fee (Prague, Brno).
- Documentation of this project by Czech television, as with "7 Candles" project.

http://www.Brikcius.com/Doc/PressKit/Brikcius.jpg
http://www.Brikcius.com/Doc/PressKit/WeinbergerTour.uk.doc
http://www.Brikcius.com/Doc/PressKit/23.IV.2007.WeinbergerTour.pdf

Project "Weinberger Tour"
Jaromír Weinberger (1896 - 1967)
Une Cantilène jalouse (1920)
Arr. for Cello and Piano by F. Brikcius - premiere

Erwin Schulhoff (1894 - 1942)
Sonata for Cello and Piano (1914)

Jaromír Weinberger (1896 - 1967)
Colloque sentimental - Prélude d'après le poème de Paul Verlaine (1920)
Arr. for Cello and Piano by F. Brikcius - premiere

James Simon (1880 - 1944)
Lamento für Cello (in jemenitischer Weise),
Meinem Lieber Martin! (17/18. XII. 1938) - Czech premiere

Irena Kosíková
d-Fence for Cello and Piano (2007) - premiere

František Brikcius - Cello
Tomáš Víšek - Piano

Prague 23 April 2007, 7.30 pm, Spanish Synagogue - opening concert
Nelahozeves, 4 May 2007, 7pm - 14. Dvořákova hudební Nelahozeves Mikulov 2007
Praha 2 October 2007, Atrium
Teplice 4 October 2007
Boskovice 7 October 2007, Synagogue
Brno 8 October 2007
Lidice 11 October 2007, 6pm
Terezín 16 October 2007
Děčín 18 October 2007, 7pm, Synagogue
Prague 19 October 2007, 6pm, Weinbergerova vila
Prague 23 October 2007, 6pm, VKC Jewish Museum
Prague 29 October 2007, 7.30 pm, Pálffy palace - final concert
Černovice 3 November 2007, 7pm


About the Artists:
TOMÁŠ VÍŠEK - Piano:
Czech pianist Tomáš Víšek (1957) started to play the piano at eight years of age at the musical school under professor Pavel Svoboda. During the years of 1972-1976 studied at the Prague Conservatory under professor Valentina Kamenikova and then later under professor Zdeněk Kozina. During the years of 1976-1984 studied at AMU (Academy of Arts) in Prague at first under professor Josef Páleníček and then under professor Zdeněk Jílek with whom he continued post-graduate studies in the years of 1990-1993.

During his studies he became a many-time laureate in domestic competitions (Ústi nad Labem, Hradec Králové, Mariánské Lázně). In international events he acquired awards in Chopin competition in Warsaw, 1975 (Janina Nawrocka special prize), Smetana competition in Hradec Kralove, 1978 (IInd prize plus an award for Smetana interpretation). During the nineties this success was followed by the Second Prize that he won in international competitions in Vienna (1992) and in Sicilian Ragusa (1994), and in 1995 he won the Fifth Prize in the Concours Milosz Magin in Paris.

He performed in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Egypt, Japan, Hungary, Russia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Germany, France, Holland, Italy, Switzerland and Austria (he repeatedly gave performances in the Vienna Musikverein, as soloist in the Grieg's Piano Concerto). Radio France arranged a separate recital for him. Visek recorded also for Czech and Polish Radio, Czech television (the cycle "Top of Classics") and on CD records. His piano recital in international festival Prague Spring in May 1997 was highly responded, as well as his performances there in 2002, 2003 and 2005); other successes - the unique festival "Music of extended duration" on Prague Castle (work of J. Cage) and the festival "Musica Iudaica" with the work of Jewish composers (Gershwin, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, E.|W. Korngold, etc.) in 1997, several times performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with orch. in the Dvorak Hall of Prague Rudolfinum in 1998, St. Wenceslas Festival in 2003 etc.

Interview with Tomáš Víšek - Czech Music 2/98: "Víšek is an explosive type of an artist who is always fully absorbed in the play. It is almost with an obsession and devilish attitude he is enjoying every twist turn in the plot of the play with the unique touch he moves it into convincing levels with deep absorption. He is unveiling various secret of the manuscript and he has proved to keep the audience in suspense for a long duration." Hudební rozhledy (music magazine)

More details can be found on http://www.musica.cz/visek

FRANTIŠEK BRIKCIUS - Cello:

Czech cellist František Brikcius was born in Prague, into a family with a distinguished cultural background. From early childhood he began to play the cello and quickly developed into a competent student. He was accepted into the Janáček Academy of Music (JAMU) in Brno after completing his study of the absolutory at the Prague Conservatoire, under Professor Jaroslav Kulhan. As a student at JAMU, František studied in Bedřich Havlík’s cello class. He furthered his study at The Toho Gakuen Academy in Japan, and continues his studies today with master classes under the guidance of Professor Anna Shuttleworth in United Kingdom. He graduated from JAMU with an MgA degree, under the tutelage of Professor Evžen Rattay.

He has actively participated in many international cello master classes in Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Great Britain and Israel. French Academy 1999, 2000, 2001 (Prof. J.Bárta), Terezín Composers International Master classes 1999 (Prof. D.Sella), Cello Master classes 2001 (Prof. L.Meze), Jihlava Master classes 2000, 2001, 2002 (Prof. D.Sella, Prof. E.Rattay), International Cello Interpretation Master classes 2002 (Prof. S.Apolín), Summer Academy in Semmering 2000, 2001, 2003 (Prof. C.Onsczay, Prof. T.Kühne), Cello Master classes 2003 (Prof. L.Uynterlinde), Eton Cello Master classes 2002, 2004 (Prof. J.Goritzki, Prof. Melissa Phelps, Prof. Anna Shuttleworth), Jerusalem Academy Master classes in Jezreel Valley 2004 (Prof. Z.Plesser, Prof. S.Magen), Terezín Composers Master classes in Israel 2004 (Prof. D.Sella).

He has performed at many festivals including "Lotherton Hall Young Artists Platform 2002" (UK), Festival Czech and Slovak Music in London 1999, 2000, 2002 (UK), Festival History, Music & Memory 2004 (Israel), Festival Music in the Valley 2004 (Israel), Violoncello 2005 in Brussels (Belgium), Spring in Russia 2006 (Moscow). He also enthusiastically visits cello festivals where he is able to mix with other young artists. These include the RNCM Manchester International Cello Festival 2004, Cello Meisterkurse & Konzerte Kronberg Academy 2004.

František Brikcius was the winner of the Anglo-Czech Competition in London (1999). He was awarded 2nd prize at The International String Competition London (2000), and 2nd prize at The International String Competition Jihlava (2003). He was a fellow of The Czech Music Foundation (ČHF) in the 2001 and 2002 for the interpretation of contemporary Czech composers.

František Brikcius has been supported by Foundation Nadání Josefa, Marie a Zdeňky Hlávkových (1999), Österreichisches Kulturinstitut Prag (1999), Johannes Brahms Wettbewerb (1999), Czech Music Foundation (ČHF), Foundation Gideon Klein for the propagation of works written by Gideon Klein (2004), Foundation Pro talent (2005), Foundation OSA (2005), Foundation Charta 77 (2005), Summer Academy in Semmering Scholarship (2000, 2001, 2003), Socrates-Erasmus Scholarship (2001, 2002), Japanese Toho Gakuen Fellowship (2002), Kronberg Cello Academy Scholarship (2004), Israeli government scholarship (2004).

He chose to dedicate his life to the interpretation of cello compositions written by composers of the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st century, with special consideration given to the compositions for cello solo. He also allows himself time to concentrate on works by Czech, Terezín and contemporary composers.

František Brikcius plays a "George Kriwalski" cello made in the 1904. He is together with his sister Anna Brikcius, founding member of the "Duo Brikcius". In 2007 he will appear as part of the "Brikcius Cello Tour 2007" in Austria, Czech republic, France, Italy and United Kingdom. More information about František Brikcius and his projects ("Prague - Brno 2005: 6 Contemporary composers for cello solo in the interpretation of František Brikcius", "Tartini's L'Arte dell'Arco in the interpretation of František Brikcius". "7 Candles" & "Weinberger Tour") is available on websites http://www.Brikcius.com .

COMPOSERS

Jaromír Weinberger
The Czech, later American composer Jaromír Weinberger (January 8th, 1896 – August 8th, 1967) was born in Jewish family in Prague, where he lived until 1937. He was one of the first Czech film music composers (Na růžích ustláno - 1934). He studied at the Conservatories in Prague (K. Hoffmeister) and in Leipzig. He studied with M. Reger and assumed into his own technique. In 1939, after extensive travels to the United States, Bratislava, Vienna and Paris, he fled his native country to escape the Nazis (he was of Jewish origin) and settled in N. Y. State, teaching there and in Ohio. He became an American citizen in 1948. During the 1950s, Weinberger moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. In later life, he developed cancer of the brain, and this, together with money worries and the neglect of his music, prompted him to take a lethal drug overdose. Weinberger composed over 100 works; the best known is the opera Švanda dudák (Švanda Bagpiper), a world-wide success after its première in 1927 (Vienna - 1930, Metropolitan Opera New York - 1931, Covent Garden London - 1934, State Opera Berlin, …). This year we are reminding 40 years since his tragically death.

Irena Kosíková
Czech organist and composer Irena Kosíková was born in Prague into the intellectual family of the forbidden philosopher Karel Kosík and literature scientist Růžena Grebeníčková, the Herder prize laureate. She started her studies of organ playing with prof. J. Hora, together with piano lessons given by prof. E. Kleinová and prof. A. Grünfeldová. She studied organ performance (prof. J. Potměšilová) and conducting (prof. K. Fiala) at Ježek's Conservatory. She wasn't allowed for further studies because of political reasons. Private compositions lessons with prof. M. Raichl. Finally after the Velvet Revolution she was accepted at the Janáček Academy of Music (JAMU) in Brno into the organ class of prof. A. Veselá and prof. K. Klugarová. She graduated at the Academy of Music (HAMU) in Prague, under the guidance of prof. J. Popelka. She is giving organ concerts and teaching organ performance at the Music School of Charlotta Masaryk in Prague. She is now intensively composing too. Her works have been performed in Czech Republic, Belgium, Germany, Israel, Russia and UK. As the Organist she is specialised on the interpretation of organ works written by J. S. Bach: complete performance of Organ Toccatas, Voluntaries, Leipzig Chorals, The Art of Fugue, Organ Messes etc. More on http://www.iKosik.com .

James Simon
German composer, pianist and musicologist James Simon (September 29th, 1880 - August 12th 1944, the date of his deportation from Theriesienstadt to Auschwitz) was born into the Jewish family in Berlin and murdered in Auschwitz in 1944 after the Theriesienstadt experience (1941-1944). He studied at the Musikhochschule in Berlin piano (C. Ansorge) and composition (Max Bruch). In 1934 he was forced to leave Germany to Zurich, later Amsterdam where he was arrested and deported to Theriesienstadt. While some of Simon's piano pieces, songs and his opera "Frau im Stein" (1918) were published, lot of his great compositions are still remaining unperformed. He is called "Lost Composer".

Erwin Schulhoff
Erwin Schulhoff (June 8th 1894 - August l8th 1942) came from Prague Jewish-German family. He started his musical studies at the Prague Conservatory of Music, continued them in Vienna and Leipzig (where his composition teacher was M. Reger) and completed them successfully in Cologne. The promising start of his career as a composer and pianist was interrupted by the outbreak of the 1WW, a time that he spent as a soldier on the eastern front. This experience completely changed his vision of the world and of the art. As the great pianist, he performed contemporary compositions in many prestigious music festivals in Europe. As the composer he produced many works written for piano, chamber music and for orchestra (at the time his death he was sketching his 7th and 8th Symphony). Following the tragic events of the 1938-39 period he was considering the possibility of settling down in the Soviet Union (he even obtained Soviet citizenship), but he could not make it. After the attack of Germans on the Soviet Union, he was arrested and imprisoned first in Prague and later in the Wulzburg camp, where he died of tuberculosis after about a one-year of imprisonment.

Yuval Ron Ensemble Embarks on Peace Tour

The Yuval Ron Ensemble is embarking on a concert tour for peace in November, centered around the International Music Festival in Jerusalem, plus a second conert in the Jewish-Arabic community center Beit Hagefen in Haifa. For more details read their letter...
Dear friends,
This is the time to register for the amazing exclusive peace mission tour we are taking on this coming November 2007. Space is limited! Itinerary, Terms and registration forms are at: http://www.yuvalronmusic.com/home.html?text/calendar.html~mainFrame Please read details below:

This is an extraordinary Tour the Yuval Ron Ensemble is embarking on, centering around a landmark concert for peace in the International Music Festival in Jerusalem plus a second concert in the Jewish- Arabic community center Beit Hagefen in Haifa. We have extended this concert tour into two weeks of explorations and exclusive cultural experiences in Israel plus meetings with local Peace Makers who work to bring Jewish and Arabic artists together.

I would like to invite you to come along to this adventure! From the Bedouin tribes in the Negev desert, the sacred sites in Jerusalem, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, to an exclusive ritual on Mt. Masada and to the historic Kabalistic center of Safed - THIS TRIP WILL BE AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFE TIME!

The tour is organized by one of the leading tour company in Israel (Target Conferences Ltd) and the guide, Ze'ev Back is one of the best and most experienced tour guides in the country.

For more info and to see the day to day activities, Please go to: http://www.yuvalronmusic.com/home.html?text/calendar.html~mainFrame

Please let me know if you would like to join us or if you have any questions about the trip.

SPACE IS LIMITED and there is a lot of interest already! So please, please, please, if you are interested please email us to receive the registration form ASAP and to reserve the space for this Exclusive Tour to the Holy Land - A Peace Mission to Israel with The Yuval Ron Ensemble.

Best wishes for Health, Peace and prosperity.

Yuval Ron

www.yuvalronmusic.com
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