Bente Kahan performing "HOME: Songs and Tales by a European Jew"
Diva of Jewish Music to Visit Melbourne
One of Europe’s greatest singers of Jewish music, Bente Kahan will perform one concert only in Melbourne on Sunday 12th August. She will also hold a Masterclass in singing in Yiddish the following day.
Norwegian born, Bente Kahan is a singer, actress, musician, director and playwright. Her only Melbourne concert, HOME: Songs and Tales by a European Jew weaves through 700 years of her family tree, which dates back to 13th century Spain. Her forbears include famous Jewish scholars and rabbis like Rabbi Leow of Prague, the creator of the Golem legend (the mythical clay creature that protects the Jewish people and the subject of Isaac Bashevis Singer’s famous novel of the same name). She will sing in Yiddish, Ladino, Hebrew and the languages where her family lived, reflecting the folklore and traditions of those countries and the encounters between Jewish and non-Jewish Europe.
A leading light in the preservation of European Jewish music, writing and theatre, Bente Kahan now lives with her family in Wrocław, Poland, where she has created the Centre for Jewish Culture and Education in that city’s synagogue (the renovated White Stork Synagogue built in 1829.) There she collaborates with Polish and European artists in musical and theatrical productions which focus on tolerance and diversity.
While in Melbourne, Ms Kahan will also hold a Singing in Yiddish masterclass, teaching the art of singing in the former language of European Jews. It’s said that to sing Yiddish songs, you have to be a good story teller. Ms Kahan will reveal the joys and treasures of the many different styles of traditional and more modern Yiddish songs. No knowledge of Yiddish is required.
Full Price Ticket: $40
ON THE HOUSE price per Ticket: $30
Feedback/Comments
Great show really enjoyed it
This was an amzing experience. Bente's story telling and singing was amazing. She gave us a little glimpse into her family history wih photographs as a backdrop, sharing with us what it was like growing up through the various centurues as part of different generations as Jew in Europe.
Excellent performance
It was an absolutely amazing concert!!!
Bente's voice is mesmerizing with it's depth and feelings she expresses with it. I loved how she made a story out of 700 years of her family history and incorporated songs into the canvas of her ancestors lives.
It was also enlightening to hear about her foundation and work in restoring White Stork Synagogue in Wroclaw.
fabulous!