Date: Nov 06, 2008

Treasures of Sephardic Song, Featuring The Gerard Edery Ensemble

An Issues in Judaism Concert, Presented by the Hofstra Cultural Center and Hofstra Hillel; Sunday, November 23, 2008, at 1 p.m. at the Student Center Theater

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY … The Hofstra Cultural Center and Hofstra Hillel, in cooperation with the Conference of Jewish Organizations of Nassau County (COJONC), present an Issues in Judaism Concert, featuring the “Treasures of Sephardic Song,” performed by The Gerard Edery Ensemble. This concert will take place at Hofstra University’s Student Center Theater, North Campus, at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 23, 2008.

Tickets are $16, $14 for senior citizens and matriculated non-Hofstra students (with ID) and $10 for children under 12. Members of the Hofstra community may receive one free ticket upon presentation of a current HofstraCard. For tickets and more information call the John Cranford Adams Playhouse Box Office at (516) 463-6644 or the Hofstra Cultural Center at (516) 463-5669. Or visit www.hofstra.edu/culture and then click on “Issues in Judaism.”

“Treasures of Sephardic Song” traces the surprising and exotic musical synergies between Christians, Arabs and Jews from medieval Spain to the present. Secular and liturgical songs from Ancient Persia, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, The Balkans and Syria tell a rich musical story and promote cross-cultural appreciation and understanding.

The Gerard Edery Ensemble interprets the ancient repertoire as a living legacy, combining stylistic authority with an immense creative and re-creative flair. From joyous hymns of celebration to poignant ballads of loss, from flamenco-inspired pieces to holy works of praise, the ensemble's instrumental virtuosity and masterful arrangements create an unforgettable musical experience.

The Gerard Edery Ensemble features Gerard Edery (vocals, guitar), winner of the Sephardic Musical Heritage Award; four-time Grammy Award-winning master drummer and composer Glen Velez (percussion, vocals); flamenco star dancer Barbara Martinez (dancer, vocals); and acclaimed classical and world chamber jazz virtuoso Meg Okura (violin, erhu, vocals).

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Related Link: More About Issues In Judaism at Hofstra