Temple Beth Zion presents two concerts of Jewish music, and JoAnn Falletta comes to WBFO.By Bill Raffel, WBFO
Buffalo, NY – Two concerts will celebrate Jewish musical contributions. Good morning. I'm Bill Raffel with Music Notes.
Since the Jewish faith is older than Christianity, you'd think there would be much more music associated with it. Not really. Temple Beth Zion Cantor David Goldstein says musical instruments weren't allowed in worship services until the mid-1800's, to mourn the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. And instruments are still not accepted by Orthodox Jews.
Now that's not to say Judaism was musically dormant. Vocal music continued, along with instrumental music outside of worship as Jews moved from Israel around the world. That's the theme of the first concert this Saturday (5/10) at 8 p.m. in Temple Beth Zion, called from Bible to Diaspora. Cantor Goldstein says you'll be introduced to music from the Middle East, Europe, and America.
See Cantors David Goldstein and Barbara Ostfeld join Pianist Nancy Townsend and other musicians Saturday at 8:00 p.m. in Temple Beth Zion, at the corner of Delaware and Barker downtown. A second concert featuring instrumental music will take place on Sunday, May 18th at 7 p.m., including these Nocturnes by Ernest Bloch plus works of Prokofiev, Bernstein, and Mozart. Performed on a Baldwin Grand Piano recently donated to the Temple.
Also this week, the Buffalo Philharmonic welcomes Canadian Pianist Louis Lortie as soloist in Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major (the one for both hands, not left hand only). Music Director JoAnn Falletta will also conduct Saint-Saens Symphony Number Three, "The Organ" on Saturday (5/10) at 8 p.m. and Sunday (5/11) at 2:30 p.m. with pre-concert talks an hour earlier. The BPO opens with the weekend with Brent Havens on the podium Friday (5/9) at 7:30 p.m., to lead music of the Doors.
BPO Music Director JoAnn Falletta will be featured in a special WBFO broadcast event this week. On Thursday (5/8) at 7:00 p.m. in UB's Allen Hall, Falletta will perform on guitar, joined by clarinetist Robert Alemany and flutist Betsy Reeds. The program includes Rossini's Overture to the Thieving Magpie, Ibert's Entracte, Matiegka's Notturno and Piazzola's Oblivion.
The Cathedral Strings give a free half-hour recital Friday (5/9) at 12:30 p.m. in Saint Paul's Cathedral downtown.