Hosted by Nicole Steinberg. This listening experience highlights the artistic contributions of two Jewish composers whose music reflects very different moments in Jewish history and European musical culture. Fromental Halévy’s "La Juive" (1835) was one of the nineteenth century’s most significant operas (and the only one) to place Jewish characters and Jewish life at the center of the operatic stage. The selected excerpts showcase both Halévy’s dramatic and vocal artistry and his engagement with questions of Jewish identity, religious difference, and persecution. Mieczysław Weinberg was a Polish-born Jewish composer who survived displacement and war before establishing his career in the Soviet Union. The selected excerpts from "The Passenger," his opera based on Holocaust testimony, explore memory, trauma, and survival. The listening session ends with the "Adagio" from his Cello Concerto, which reflects the Soviet Union’s anti-formalistic musical climate while incorporating clear allusions to synagogue practice. Together, these works trace two distinct Jewish composers across nearly 150 years, inviting listeners to consider how their distinctive musical styles voice identity, memory, persecution, and survival.
Accessibility: The Museum building, including the family and all-gender single-stall bathroom, is wheelchair accessible. Masks are welcome but not required. Complimentary masks will be available for anyone who would like one. Noise-reducing headphones and earplugs are available upon request at the front desk. Please reach out to our team if you have additional accessibility needs.
Parking: Street-side parking is available, including in the parking lot located directly across the street from the Museum building. Please be sure to check parking signs and parking spot markings.
For questions, please contact info@jewishmuseummd.org or 410.732.6400.