Vocal

Five Hebrew Love Songs by Eric Whitacre, Hila Plitmann, soprano, Tali Tadmor, piano, Ruth Bruegger, violin 

Performance at California Lutheran University in April, 2009.

This is one of my favorite song cycles, five frozen images – musical “postcards” of sorts that I find touching in their simplicity. Hila wrote the gorgeous poetry which includes “Larov” (song #3):

“Mostly,” said the roof to the sky, the distance between us is endlessness; But a while ago two came up here, and only one centimeter was left between us.”

*Listen for the minor second between the voice and violin, painting the word “centimeter”…

 


Danny Maseng: Ki Eshmera Shabbat (“I Shall Keep The Sabbath”)
Danny and I met years ago when he was on tour in Los Angeles. We began our first rehearsal, and from the first note of the first piece to the very last we did not exchange one word – it was as if we had known each other our whole lives. Danny promised he would see for it that played together again, and he did.

Making music with Danny is still as effortless as ever. We have since performed together all around the US and Europe, and I consider myself lucky to have crossed paths with this beautiful and dear soul.


“I Am Easily Assimilated” from Leonard Bernstein’s Candide, UCLA Opera Theater Ensemble 

This is a fun clip celebrating the then-unfinished, now-completed UCLA Ostin Music Center. It was recorded using (among other things) body cameras and go-pros attached to the singers’ ankles.

 


Lullaby, by Gideon Klein (1919-1945) 

With Mirjam Frank, mezzo-soprano, at the Recovered Voices International Symposium in Los Angeles, fall 2017. This haunting lullaby was arranged by the young and promising composer during his time in the Terezin Ghetto.

 


First Song, by Tali Tadmor, with Damon Kirsche, Carol Chaikin and David Kontesz 

Composed sometime in the late 90′s, recorded in April 2011.

This is one of the first songs I ever wrote, the first in English and first for which I wrote the lyrics as well. I finally recorded it in 2011 in order to use in a grant application. Reflecting back almost 20 years later, I clearly remember my broken heart and the flavor of the emotions resulting in this text. Now if I could only remember who this was all about…!

 

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