Classical Interludes: Ljova and WhEE (Where Else Ensemble)

About this event

The WhEE (Where Else Ensemble) is an ad-hoc group of musicians put together by the fadolínist and composer Ljova, a close collaborator of Brooklyn Rider, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and many others. This concert will include two song cycles that feature folkloric poetry set to new music -- Dmitry Shostakovich's "Songs of Jewish Folk Poetry" with new original companion songs by Ljova, and the US premiere of "Songs of German Folk Poetry" by the composer Alexander Zhurbin. Both song cycles will be performed in Russian, and English translations will be available. Complementing this program will be original folk songs in Yiddish, and music from Central Asia. Performers: Inna Barmash, vocalist Elizaveta Kozlova, soprano Vladimir Shvets, baritone Trio Fadolín: Sabina Torosjan, violin Ljova, fadolín Valeriya Sholokhova, cello Yelena Grinberg, piano BIOGRAPHIES of performers for OCTOBER 18 at Brooklyn Public Library’s Dweck series Vocalist INNA BARMASH immigrated to the States from Lithuania, where she first started singing in Yiddish and Russian. While a student at Princeton University, she co-founded the Klez Dispensers, and has performed with numerous other klezmer groups in the tri-state area. Her explorations of the repertoire of Russian and Romanian gypsies led to her co-founding of Romashka, a gypsy band based in New York. While roaming through clubs, cafe, and underground parties with Romashka, Inna encountered Ljova, and now they travel together with Ljova and the Kontraband, and their sons Benjamin & Yosif. InnaBarmash.bandcamp.com Praised for her “impassioned phrasing” by OperaWire, NYC-based soprano ELIZAVETA KOZLOVA has been presented nationally and internationally. She has performed the roles of Servilia (La Clemenza di Tito) and Anna I (Die Sieben Todsünden) with Dell'Arte Opera, Doralice (Il trionfo dell'onore) with Amherst Early Music Festival, Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) with New York Lyric Opera, and Amore (L’incoronazione di Poppea) with…

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