The Boston Modern Orchestra Project Will Present Klezmer Madness On November 23, 2019, in NEC’s Jordan Hall in Boston 

The Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP)—one of the nation’s premier orchestras dedicated solely to commissioning, performing, and recording new orchestral music—will present a one-night-only concert of contemporary music entitled Klezmer Madness.

The concert will feature contemporary music by three different composers who explore their Jewish heritage through klezmer music—guest soloist and klezmer superstar David Krakauer will be featured in the concert. 

The November 23, 2019, concert will also include the Boston premiere of Matthew Rosenblum’s clarinet concerto Lament/ Witches’ Sabbath, Avner Dorman’s Ellef Symphony and Uriah, and Wlad Marhulets’ Concerto for Klezmer Clarinet. 

According to Gil Rose, BMOP’s artistic director and conductor, there’s no doubt about the Jewish identity of the works on this program. 

“Multiple, varying influences inform these works, both in terms of style and origin, but there is one common theme: klezmer, “ he said. “Those with no previous exposure to klezmer music and those already familiar with it will find this ages-old, nearly forgotten art form appealing.”

Klezmer, a genre of music derived from and built on the secular music tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe, is stylistically influenced by indigenous music from various countries in Eastern Europe (especially Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Greece, Ukraine, and Turkey). 

BMOP will kick off its tribute to klezmer music with two works written for (and featuring) one of the most influential musicians in new Jewish music—David Krakauer. Krakauer has also been a key player in the vital new wave of klezmer. He will join BMOP a second time for the Concerto for Klezmer Clarinet by Wlad Mahulets. This polystylistic concerto contrasts with the tradition klezmer forms by implementing contemporary orchestral writing. 

The concert will be held at NEC’s Jordan Hall on November 23, 2019, beginning promptly at 8 PM. A pre-concert talk will be held prior to the performance at 7 PM. Tickets start at $22.