The album cover features the oil painting 'Da Capo' from 2008 by Samuel Bak, an image courtesy of Pucker Gallery.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Kaddish, an evening-length cycle of fifteen original songs, aims to create common ground with Holocaust survivors and evoke empathy for victims of genocide.
Performer Biography
The world premiere performance featured the VocalEssence Chorus and Chamber Singers, conducted by Philip Brunelle, with soloists Maria Jette (Soprano), Krista J. Palmquist (Mezzo-Soprano), Anders Eckman (Tenor), and James Bohn (Bass-Baritone).
Compositional Technique
Kaddish is structured into three sections: reflections of pre-Holocaust life, personal stories from the Holocaust, and a closing section that includes a 'Litany' of the dead and the Mourners' Kaddish.
Recording & Production
This recording of Kaddish is a live world premiere performance that took place at the Ted Mann Concert Hall in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 15, 2008.
Composition History
The libretto for Kaddish is largely based on first-hand testimonies of Holocaust survivors, collected by the composer over several years.
