Yiddish Winterreise for Darfus, London, UK, 19 Oct 2008
A Yiddish Winterreise for Darfur, Sunday 19 October at The Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer, Exmouth Market, EC1
On Sunday, 19 October we will be giving what we consider to be our most important performance yet. A Yiddish Winterreise is a cycle of songs in Yiddish performed by Mark Glanville (Bass-Baritone) and Alexander Knapp (Piano), which aims to replicate the emotional journey of Schubert's original, but in a Holocaust context. From the outset it was conceived both as a way of building bridges and a means of lending support to the victims of modern genocides.
The concert will be given at the Church of our Most Holy Redeemer, Exmouth Market, London EC1, Sunday 19 October at 19.30. Minimum charge £10. We urge you to attend.
All the profit from this performance, given under the auspices of UNICEF, will go to children of refugees from Darfur, a region which continues to be volatile, five years after the start of the conflict. Over 4 million people have been affected, and of these 2 million have been displaced. For the 2.1 million children affected, including 630,000 under the age of 5, the conflict has often meant growing up in difficult conditions in refugee camps. Fighting between rebel groups, security forces and the Janjaweed militia continues largely unrestrained. Entire villages have been wiped out and 400,000 people have been killed.
'The 24-song cycle of Yiddish folk songs, popular songs and art songs — half of them arranged by the superb pianist Alexander Knapp, an expert on Jewish music … lasts 80 minutes and Glanville was masterly in sustaining its technical and emotional demands.' —Yehuda Shapiro in Opera Now
'Genuine creative originality in performance is rare indeed, but was certainly manifest in this revelatory recital at Kent House. For once, the cliché is appropri ate: this was a performance to remember for a lifetime. A CD is planned for later this year, and cannot be too strongly recommended.' —Raymond Fischer in Westminster Quarterly
'Overall it was a musically mezmerizing and beguiling experience. Glanville's powerful resonant baritone, redolent of years of experience in leading opera companies such as Opera North, Scottish Opera, and New Israeli Opera, gained in focus and intensity during the course of the cycle, while Knapp's accomplished pianism displayed masterly command of colour and line.' —Malcolm Miller in MVDaily.com