News

Kaddish on Performance Today
On Tuesday April 21, 2009, Yom Ha Shoah, Performance Today, the nationally syndicated classical music radio program, presented selections from a major new choral work: Kaddish, written and composed by Lawrence Siegel. For a limited period you may listen online at the Performance Today Archives.

Kaddish is an hour-long oratorio for chorus, soloists and chamber orchestra, whose libretto is fashioned from the testimony of survivors of the Holocaust. Kaddish tells their stories in their own words, providing a window into their lives, allowing us to share their experience directly. As the youngest of the survivors approach their eighties and nineties, this window is beginning to close. Kaddish will allow us to hear their voices forever.

The world premiere of Kaddish took place in Minneapolis, MN, on November 15th, 2008, given by VocalEssence, under Philip Brunelle. On November 18th, 2010, a full symphonic version will be premiered by the Houston Symphony and Houston Symphony Chorus. In the period leading up to that performance, a series of significant workshops and presentations will feature the composer and Holocaust survivors. These activities will be produced by Holocaust Museum Houston in partnership with the Houston Symphony.

Performance Today features live concerts by famous artists in concert halls around the globe, and is one of America's most popular classical music radio programs, with more than 1.2 million weekly listeners on 237 stations around the country. To find your local station and airtime, go to: http://performancetoday.publicradio.org/stations/

Of the premiere performance of Kaddish, the Minneapolis Star Tribune said: "... In its lyrical simplicity, the music created an emotional connection to the story. Kaddish had a gravitas and an emotional immediacy that made even the familiar story of the Holocaust fresh and compelling." The Minnesota Pioneer Press said: "... Joy of a kind born in resiliency emerges like a glow of white light in the final section of Lawrence Siegel's oratorio ... the impact of the conclusion is thrilling."

Kaddish was commissioned by the Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies at Keene State College, Keene, NH, one of the nation's oldest Holocaust Resource Centers, in honor of its 25th anniversary. The Center has been recognized as a "Center of Excellence" by the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous. It boasts a strong collection of print and media resources and supports a minor in Holocaust Studies at Keene State College.

Kaddish is bringing together a growing group of supporters, friends, and ambassadors, whose common purpose is to use this work of music to raise awareness of the issue of genocide; to take part in an act of tikkun olam (repairing the world). Kaddish hopes to accomplish this work by engendering empathy, not only for survivors of the Holocaust, but for survivors of genocide and oppression everywhere.

For more information about Kaddish please contact the publisher: Larilea 128 Paine Rd. Westmoreland, NH 03467 603-355-8353
larry@tricinium.com

Kaddish World Premiere
November 15, 2008
VocalEssence, conducted by Philip Brunelle,
Lawrence Siegel, Composer
Minneapolis, MN – The World Premiere of "Kaddish", took place November 15, 2008 as part of the 40th anniversary season of VocalEssence, conducted by Philip Brunelle, featuring soprano Maria Jette, mezzo Krista J. Palmquist, tenor Anders Eckman and bass-baritone James Bohn.

Interest is building around the world- in Houston, Texas, Toronto, Canada, Copenhagen, Denmark, Jerusalem, Israel, and many other places- in hosting performances of "Kaddish."

As Ambassador Richard Swett offered, after the May 3 debut: "I am so impressed and proud of what you have done. The breadth of the impact it will have I predict will be global, but the piece itself possesses a humility and optimism that is unlike any other piece on the holocaust....[T]his piece was one of the most impacting pieces I have ever heard. The libretto was so real it was palpable."

The Kaddish project is proud to invite you to witness this work for yourself. Please contact us with your thoughts, or just to be kept informed.



Pre-performance video interview by 3minuteegg

read the brochure [2 MB PDF]

 

Debut Performance of Kaddish conducted by Lawrence Siegel, Composer
May 3, 2008 at 8pm
Redfern Arts Center
Keene State College
After much anticipation, Kaddish debuted as a sold-out performance to nearly 600 people.  Preceded by a benefit dinner to support the Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies at Keene State College, the evening was graced by Holocaust survivors, community leaders, dignitaries, and Holocaust scholars from across the country.  The music and words captivated hearts and minds, and audience members spoke of Kaddish as being spellbinding, intriguing, and full of hope as well as humility. 

Please visit our photo gallery of the May 3rd Kaddish debut.

 

Yankee Magazine highlights Kaddish in their May/June 2008 edition
Song cycle on Holocaust opens world tour in New Hampshire by Justin Shatwell

read the feature article

 

Larry Siegel interview on NPR
The Kaddish libretto uses the words of Holocaust survivors as they remember the horror and tragedy of that dark page of human history. Larry Siegel gives Word of Mouth host Virginia Prescott a preview of the piece.

listen to the interview on nhpr

 

NH Union Leader: A Prayer for the Dead
New Hampshire composer Lawerence Siegel unveils work that honors Holocaust victims, celebrates survivors.

April 24, 2008, Keene, NH --The Westmoreland composer was asked by the Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies to create a piece called “Kaddish,” a term that refers to a Jewish prayer recited as part of the mourning rituals at funerals and on the anniversary of the death of a loved one.

for entire article download pdf file