Yiddish Soul Concert at Central Park's Summer Stage

VIN News - NY, NY - Approximately 3000 people gathered yesterday at Central Park’s SummerStage for a free concert that celebrated the many genres of Jewish music.

Yiddish Soul: A Concert of Cantorial and Chassidic Music was part of Kulturfest NYC, an eight day festival that cast the spotlight on Jewish arts. Presented by The National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene in honor of its centennial, Kulturfest is currently featuring films, documentaries, classical and cutting edge Jewish music, comedy, symposia, workshops, children’s programming and other exhibits and events at venues throughout New York City.

Last night’s concert featured Jewish music’s elite, with musical styles that ran the gamut. Taking the stage throughout the night were Avraham Fried, Netanel Hershtik, Yanky Lemmer, Joseph Malovany, Lipa Schmeltzer and Zusha, a neo-Chasidic band that has been top ten ranked by Billboard, a well known music publication serving the entertainment business.

 The orchestra led  by musical director Avremi Gourarie, AKA Avremi G. On the grand piano, the artistic director of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, and the man who first thought of this concert - Zalmen Mlotek. On keyboard  the star of Manhattan Transfer, Yaron Gershofsky.  On drums,  Benny Koonyevsky. On bass, Mike Hall, On guitar Nadav Remez.  Trombone - Dan Blachserg, Clarinet/Saxophone - Michael Winograd,  and on trumpet, a Grammy winning artist whom you will see and hear throughout Kulturfest - a giant of the Klezmer revival - Frank London.

Turnout for Yiddish Soul, an effort by the NYTF to reach out to the Orthodox Jewish community, was higher than expected, despite threatening skies and rain, which ended just before the concert began.
“We almost got rained out twice but it was a fabulous concert, with everyone from all walks of life, whether Jewish or not, coming together with the message of the impact of Jewish and Yiddish culture throughout the world,” Christopher Massimine, chief operating officer of the NYTF and executive producer of Yiddish Soul,  told VIN News.  “The most amazing thing we saw was how many people came and appreciated the message of peace, sincerity and contribution.”

While the notion of Yiddish music and chazanus might seem to appeal only to the older set, concert goers of all ages were swept up by the music during the program, which ran over two and a half hours and was hosted by radio personality Nachum Segal.  Even the attire of the performers, from Malovany’s white dinner jacket to Schmeltzer’s white derby and colorful bow tie, seemed to echo the message of the night:  that Jewish music is alive and well with something to appeal to everyone.

Having five of Jewish music’s top performers taking the stage in the midst of the most visited urban park in the city and one of the most filmed locations in the world seemed surreal for some.

“Chazzanut in a park? Impossible,” said Chazan Yanky Lemmer. “Yiddish to young teenagers from across a wide spectrum of backgrounds? Impossible. Well that’s exactly what happened and from the reactions we know it was effective. Towards the end, the crowd was on fire! The blend of the two and the way the program kept escalating was superb.”

Full Cast Finale Part 1 "Zol Shoyn Kumen Di Geuleh" at Central Park Summer Stage


Full Cast Finale Part 2

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Avraham Fried Sings Geulah Medley


Lipa Schmeltzer Sings Romania



Avraham Fried - Nisht Gedaiget Yidden



Chazzan Hershtik



Zusha - Yoel's Niggun



Zusha - Forever Niggun


Several clips from a phone camera


Finale, from a different camera