CONCERT – The Vilna Ghetto Theater: Yiddish Poetry Set to Music (1941-1943)

On the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Vilna Ghetto. Excerpts from four revue shows from the famous Vilna Ghetto Theater. In English (songs in Yiddish)

Sophie Michaux, voice. Eugenia Gerstein, piano. Susanne Klingenstein, lecture.
Thursday, September 8, 7:00 pm
Brandeis University, Rapaporte Treasure Hall, Waltham, MA

Sophie Michaux was born in London raised in France. She studied classical music at the Haute École de Musique in Geneva, Switzerland, graduating in 2010 with a degree in Early Music. She then went to Venice to study at the Egida Sartori and Laura Alvini Early Music Seminar (directed by René Jacob). In the fall of 2010 she came to Cambridge, where she is currently studying voice at the Longy School of Music with Anna Gabrieli. Although Ms. Michaux is concentrating on the classical opera repertoire, her rich mezzo-soprano also makes her a sought-after soloist for jazz and tango ensembles.

Eugenia Gerstein was born in Moscow, Russia. After early training in piano and music theory at Moscow music schools, she pursued graduate studies at Mussorgsky Ural State Conservatory in Sverdlovsk, focusing on choral conducting and the teaching of choral disciplines. She taught at the Music Teachers’ College in Voronezh, where she chaired the Department of Music Theory. Since leaving Russia in 1994, Eugenia Gerstein embarked on a career in music education and choral conducting.

Susanne Klingenstein was born in Germany. After studying various literatures, history and philosophy at the University of Heidelberg and Brandeis University, she pursued Yiddish literature and postgraduate work in American literature at Harvard University. In 1991 she earned a PhD in American Studies. She teaches philosophy and history of medical culture as lecturer in the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology at the Harvard Medical School. She is a regular contributor to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and is currently writing an introduction to Yiddish literature for Beck Verlag in Munich.