The world premiere took place in Tel Aviv in 1963, under the direction of Bernstein himself, with the IPO and actress Hanna Rovina. Bernstein dedicated the work to the memory of John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated shortly before the premiere.
The guest cast, together with the orchestra, includes an impressive Israeli team full of worldwide success: conductor Ilan Volkov, singer Chen Reiss, and actor Itai Tiran, alongside the Gary Bertini Israeli Choir, the Jerusalem Academy Choir, and the Anchor Choir.
Ilan Volkov is a world-renowned conductor who is at home with all kinds of music, an ideal choice to conduct a multi-style work like Bernstein’s Kaddish. Chen Reiss is undoubtedly today’s leading Israeli singer on the world stages, and Itai Tiran returns to collaborate with the IPO as an actor/narrator. It is a worthy trio to follow the original cast, which gave the world premiere here in Tel Aviv with Bernstein conducting and singer Jenny Tural and actress Hanna Rovina. They join a prestigious list of Kaddish performers, including Felicia Montealegre, Bernstein’s wife; the singer Montserrat Caballé; violinist Yehudi Menuhin; and actress Claire Bloom.
Program No. 1
Ilan Volkov, conductor
Chen Reiss / Hila Baggio, soprano
Itay Tiran, narrator
The Gary Bertini Israeli Choir
The Jerusalem Academy Chamber Choir
The Joshua Tuttnauer Ankor Choir of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance
Leonard Bernstein at 100
The first half of the concert features a film about Leonard Bernstein’s life
Bernstein: Symphony no.3, "Kaddish"
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