Video 1: Preview of Semer Ensemble 2023 in Toronto

Video 2: “Beyond All Memories”

Ashkenaz Festival and the Toronto Holocaust Museum is excited to welcome Germany’s Semer Ensemble back to Toronto, following tour de force performances in 2016 and 2017. The Semer Ensemble tour in Canada and in the United States starts in October. The videos above are a small sample of what is waiting for you in Toronto on October 5, 2023 presented by Ashkenaz Festival!

Founded in 2012, the Semer Ensemble is dedicated to music recorded by Jewish artists during the Nazi period on the almost unknown Berlin-based Semer record label. Destroyed by the Nazis in 1938, the entire Semer catalogue of hundreds of precious, unique recordings was considered lost forever until it was rediscovered in the early 2000s. See “Beyond All Memories” for an excellent explanation.

The Semer Ensemble features an all-star lineup of Yiddish music artists led by accordionist and pianist Dr. Alan Bern, of Brave Old World, and including acclaimed singer, accordionist and mandolin player Daniel Kahn; violinist Mark “Stempenyuk” Kovnatskiy, who performs with many of the most prominent ensembles of the Yiddish cultural revival; world music polyglot and bassist Martin Lillich; Forshpil singer and leader Sasha Lurje; Fayvish singer and leader Fabian Schnedler; and Grammy-winning singer and accordionist Lorin Sklamberg, of the Klezmatics.

Plan to attend a performance of the Semer Ensemble featuring songs in Yiddish, German, Hebrew, and Russian accompanied by English subtitles. Supported by the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany and Lufthansa.

Upcoming performances include:
Montreal: Oct. 2, 2023, 7:30 PM at Shaar Hashomayim, co-presented by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic in Germany Montreal. More Information and Tickets: Here.
Ottawa: Oct 4, 2023, 7:00 PM at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, co-presented by the Embassies of Israel and Germany. More Information and Tickets: Here.
Toronto: Oct. 5, 2023, 8:00 PM at the Meridian Arts Centre, Lyric Theatre, co-presented by Ashkenaz Festival, Toronto Holocaust Museum and the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Toronto. More Information and Tickets: Here.
New York City: Oct. 9, 2023, 7:00 PM at YIVO Institute, co-presented by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany New York City. More Information and Tickets: Here.
Washington D.C.: Oct. 10, 2023, 7:30 PM at Edlavitch DCJCC, co-presented by the German Embassy Washington. More Information and Tickets: Here.

On October 6, 2023 in Toronto don’t miss this rare opportunity to work directly with the world-class singers and instrumentalists of Semer Ensemble. Learn more about the extraordinary music and stories behind the Semer Ensemble. The three-part program is open to all, not just for musicians and singers. The program takes place at the Toronto Holocaust Museum. Tickets are $25. Participants are welcome to attend all three components or pick and choose which to attend, all for a single price. Registration for the workshops includes free access to explore the Museum (which is normally closed on Fridays). Here is the program:

10:30 am – Instrumental workshop, with Alan Bern (accordion/piano, musical direction), Mark Kovnatskiy (violin) and Martin Lillich (bass) – Geared to musicians of any kind, but open to observation by non-musicians as well, the artists will teach instrumental repertoire from their concert program, and explore the roles of instruments when accompanying the vocal repertoire in the program.

12:PM – Lunch break – bring your own or purchase from Eisenberg’s onsite location in Prosserman JCC.

12:30 pm – Q & A with the members of Semer Ensemble. In this informal session, the group will be open to discussing anything and everything about the Semer project: the original label and artists, what happened to the recordings, how they were recovered, how/when the members of Semer Ensemble first encountered them, how they went about arranging and performing them, the musicians’ experiences playing them in different times and places, and whatever else audience members might like to know.

1:30 pm – Song workshop, with Alan Bern and the four vocalists in the group, Lorin Sklamberg, Sasha Lurje, Daniel Kahn and Fabian Schnedler. The artists will teach some of the songs in their program, providing lyrics, translation and notes about the repertoire to all participants.
The program will end at 3pm

The Toronto program is presented by Ashkenaz, in association with Toronto Holocaust Museum, with support from the Federal Foreign Office of the Republic of Germany, Lufthansa, Toronto Workmen’s Circle Foundation, and UJA Committee For Yiddish.

For further information visit the Semer Ensemble Facebook page and and music@semerensemble.com.