In 1948, the composer (1906–1975) accidentally discovers a volume of poems with Jewish folk songs and is deeply moved. Eight beautiful, deeply sad songs are created. However, since he is under critical observation by the Russian rulers, Shostakovich does not dare to perform these subtle compositions until 1955, two years after Stalin's death. In the meantime, he had added three more, rather cheerful songs.

Under the direction of Jesús Ortega Martinez, the Bayer Philharmonic and three outstanding singers will bring the cycle to the stage, framed by thematically related works by Sergei Prokofiev and Max Bruch. The program is rounded off by a reading by Iris Berben – she presents letters from the Berlin-based Russian author Sasha Marianna Salzmann.

Program

Sergej Prokofjew: Overture on Hebrew Themes op. 34

Dmitri Shostakovich: "From Jewish Folk Poetry" – Song cycle for soprano, alto, and tenor and orchestra op. 79a

Max Bruch: Kol Nidrei op. 47

Letters from Sasha Marianna Salzmann from: Sasha Marianna Salzmann, Ofer Waldman: Simultaneously. Letters between Israel and Europe (© Suhrkamp Verlag AG, Berlin 2024)

Anush Hovhannisyan (soprano), Lioba Braun (alto), Thomas Ebenstein (tenor), Iris Berben (reading), Jesús Ortega Martínez (conductor), Bayer Philharmonic, Cosima Gietzen (cello)