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Kristallnacht to Israel's 60th year in music event

By Jason Cohen
October 24, 2008 

In a special concert to honor the victims of the Holocaust and the 60th anniversary of Israel, the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra and Anshe Emeth choir will hold a concert, "The Spirit Lives On: Tragedy and Triumph."

This will be the second collaboration in two years between the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra and the Makhelat Anshe Emeth Choir under the direction of Cantor Anna West Ott.

The concert will be divided into three sections that reflect the changing fortunes of Jews in Central Europe in the last century: the Promise, Disintegration, and Remembrance and Renewal.

They will perform music of Erich Korngold, Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Weill, and other great Jewish composers of the mid-20th century. It will take place at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick.

West Ott said the choir and the orchestra decided to commemorate to the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht and at the same time celebrate the establishment of Israel.

West Ott will be singing "Even When God is Silent," by Michael Horvit. The text to this song was found on the wall of a basement in a home when the Allied soldiers liberated the Jews, she said. 

She said the concert is important because when one has the opportunity to educate people about the Holocaust it is imperative to do so.

"Survivors are dying out, and who's left to tell the story?" she said. "It's very important to tell the story. What's more special, our spirit has lived on, and Israel is now celebrating its 60th birthday."   
 

There are also three additional pieces being done by West Ott. The first one is called "Kiddush" by Kurt Weill, the second is "Avinu Malkeynu" by Max Janowski, and the third is "Unetane Tokef" by Morris Barash. The third piece is newly orchestrated by Benjamin Williams and is commissioned by the New Brunswick Chamber of Orchestra.  

West Ott said she hopes survivors that were present at Kristallnacht will attend the concert.  

"It's important to continue to tell the story of the Holocaust," she said.

She said music can often tell a story in ways words cannot.   

"I'm very excited; Mark is an excellent conductor, and it's another opportunity to join hands and share beautiful music with the community," she said. "It is a moving tribute to our ancestors."

John Semmglow, the president of the board of the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra, said this concert recognizes a major event in Jewish history.

"The basic idea was to put three composers before Hitler and people after Hitler," Semmglow said. "All having some relationship with Israel."

He said he is both excited and concerned for the upcoming concert, which is a unique project for the choir.

"It is two major events in Jewish history and we are trying to make it more than just a concert," Semmglow said.

The choir and the orchestra began giving concerts together two years ago. The orchestra recently decided to go in a new direction with a series of concerts entitled "Our Musical Heritage," Semmglow said.

The orchestra has previously done concerts by African, Hispanic, and Hungarian composers, Semmglow said. 

"It is truly a unique and cultural experience," he said. "Not a lot of orchestras can put together beautiful music with interesting history and text."   

"The fact that some of these pieces were composed in a concentration camp is amazing," he added.

Tickets for the event will be available at the door for $17, $15 for students and seniors. Parking is available along Livingston Avenue. For more information, go to the Web page of the NBCO at  www.newbrunswickchamberorchestra.org.