Concerts in Grand Choral Synagogue - Choral / Cantor Concerts - Cantor and Klezmer Concerts - Concerts schedule summer 2010 Choral / Cantor Concerts    Music is an integral part of Jewish rites and liturgy. Traditionally, a Jewish prayer service is chanted. Cantor is a person who leads the public service at the synagogue and is specially trained in the art of Jewish music and liturgy.   The Cantor concert is a treat and a real cultural experience for those interested in Jewish culture and musical tradition.   Ñhoral Concerts are performed  by Gregory Yakerson and Men`s  Choir of the Grand Choral  Synagogue Gregory Yakerson was born in 1971 in Leningrad (outdated name of St.-Petersburg) At the age of 16 Mr. Yakerson begins to sing in the choir of the Leningrad Grand Choral Synagogue. 1997 he graduates from the Rimsky-Korsakov St.-Petersburg State Conservatory. 1996 Mr. Yakerson as a participant of Turetsky’s Moscow Jewish Choir gives a tour in Miami, Florida, where he takes part in religious services in Temle Emanu-El of Greater Miami throughout several months. At this time he gets acquainted with cantor art.  During his next visits to USA he studies chazzanut under the direction of Yehuda Shifman, Moishe Shulhof, Staphen Texon and performs in Florida together with them. In 2001 Gregory Yakerson becomes “chazzan sheini” in St.-Petersburg Grand Choral Synagogue. In 2005 he becomes the Synagogue’s full-time cantor. Mr. Yakerson is a guest cantor of different synagogues in Miami Beach, where he davens shabbat and bar mizvahs services. The repetory of Mr. Yakerson includes a lot of Jewish folk songs, professional vocal music by Jewish composers and Judaic barocco music. Duration: 45 min Location: Grand Choral Synagogue Season: May - September (October – April: upon special request)  The program of the concerts includes:    - Yiddish songs    - Israeli songs    - Traditional chanting (the most melodious and meaningful parts of everyday and festival service) The Yiddish songs of Ashkenazi Jews. These songs, which have originated in Eastern Europe in late XIX – early XX centuries, are about life, joys and sorrows of simple “mestechko” Jews. Israeli songs. Since the very inception of Israel in 1948, the country’s cultural life has been marked with a distinctive song tradition, which combines elements of European Jewish (Ashkenazi) and Near Eastern and North African Jewish (Sephardic) musical style. These songs are about longing for peace in Israel; the holy city of Jerusalem and the beauty of the Holy Land. Traditional prayers are chanted in Synagogues during the service. Arranged by famous cantors, these melodies have become an integral element of Jewish service and are therefore familiar to any traditional Jew, in whatever country he lives. Cantor and Klezmer Concerts  Concerts are performed by Gregory Yakerson and Jewish traditional music ensemble «KLE-ZEMER» (St.-Petersburg):    Ilya Gindin (clarinet)    Maria Gribkova (violin)    Evgeny Khazdan (piano), the ensemble’s artistic director “Kle-Zemer”, which was created in 1992, is prize-winner of The First International Jewish Folk Music Competition named after Solomon Mykhoels (1999, Moscow); laureat of Leonid Sonts Jewish Music Competitions (2002-2003, Kazan), participant of International Festivals «KlezFest in St. Petersburg» (1997-2006) and «KlezFest London» (2004). In 2004 the ensemble performed as the «All-Stars Klezmer Band» at Moscow International Jewish Book Festival. Since 2006 "KLE-ZEMER" performs together with Gregory Yakerson, cantor of St.-Petersburg Grand Choral Synagogue. Duration: 45 min Location: Grand Choral Synagogue Season: May - September (October - April: upon special request) The program of the concerts includes:    - Pieces of chazzanut    - Folk songs    - Klezmer music Note:  Available for sale are Gregory Yakerson and “Kle-Zemer” joint performance CDs CD contents: 1. «Shehekheyonu» (text: trad., music: Meyer Machtenberg (1884–1979)) 2. «Sheyebone bais hamikdash» (text & music: trad.) 3. Evgeny Khazdan «Hora» 4. «Uvnukho yomar» (text: trad., music: Louis Lewandowski (1823-1894)) 5. «Al naharot bavel» (Psalm 137, music: Evgeny Khazdan) 6. «Beregovsky Medley on Klezmer Tunes» 7. «Eyn kelokeynu» (text: trad., music: trad./arr. M. Himmelshtein) 8. «Vu tsvey iz Naftule der driter» (klezmer composition from repertoire of Naftule Brandwein (1884-1963)) 9. «Oyfn pripetshik» (text & music: Mark Warshavsky (1840-1907)) 10. «Bulgar» (folk) 11. «Dona, Dona» (text: Aaron Zeitlin (1889-1973), music: Sholom Secunda (1894-1974)) 12. «Freylekhs» (folk tune from collection of Sofia Maggid (1892- 1955)) 13. «Tum-balalayke» (folk song) 14. «Freylekhs» (folk) 15. «Ose shalom» (text & music: trad.)   Concerts Schedule 2010 June July August September June 11 at 4:00 pm July 6 at 2:30,  4:00 pm Aug 1 at 10:30 am, 2:30 pm Sept 2 at 3:45 pm, June 13 at 3:45 pm July 9 at 3:45 pm Aug 9 at 3:45 pm Sept 7 at 3:45 pm June 15 at 3:45 pm July 15 at 3:45 pm Aug 11 at 2:30 pm, 4:00 pm Sept 8 at 10:30 am June 27 at 2:30 pm July 23 at 3:45 pm Aug 15 at 3:45 pm   June 28 at 2:30 pm July 26 at 3:45 pm Aug 18 at 2:30 pm     July 29 at 3:45 pm Aug 26 at 3:45 pm     July 30 at 4:00 pm Aug 27 at 10:30 am       Aug 30 at 3:45 pm   Note: Schedule alterations are possible. Please check the schedule a day before the concert. Upon special order, additional concerts are available.  Ticket price is 350 roubles ($12) for one person Special prices for groups upon previous arrangement only