Jewish Music Series

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Cantorial music from the Sephardic and Ashkenazi traditions
Elli Jaffe, conductor


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From its first day as a broadcast ensemble, the orchestra has maintained a close relationship with the cantorial tradition. The very first musical notes heard over the airwaves, in March 1936, as part of the inaugural broadcast event of the British Mandate's Palestine Broadcast Services, came from the piano of Arieh Sachs, one of the founders of our orchestra, who played the introduction to a song sung by cantor Chaim Vittorio Weinberg.
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The Jewish cantorial tradition draws its melodies from the prayers. But at the same time, the tradition also relies on operatic singing. Weinberg completed his studies at the Conservatory of Music in Milan; Yossele Rosenblatt frequented Hamburg's theater and opera and even met the legendary tenor Enrico Caruso. In their performances, leading cantors often include arias and songs from selected operas.
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The Jerusalem Symphony is proud to present a cantorial series dedicated to lovers of Jewish religious music.