Five Boroughs Music Festival Presents East of the River on 3/16

Five Boroughs Music Festival (5BMF) presents the adventurous world-music ensemble East of the River in their new program, SULTANA: Music of the Sephardic Diaspora, on Thursday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park https://us.vocuspr.com/Publish/3318684/vcsPRAsset_3318684_88987_0d249e23-ca40-4948-bb45-e6b83ee4ecb9_0.jpegSlope, Brooklyn.

The program celebrates the ancient musical world of the Sephardic Jewish diaspora in North Africa and throughout the Ottoman Empire, taking the audience on a journey through bazaars, kitchens, dance circles, prayer houses, and public spaces. Founded by woodwind virtuosos Daphna Mor and Nina Stern, East of the River explores haunting and captivating melodies from the traditional repertoires of the Balkans, Armenia, and the Middle East, as well as from the Medieval European classical repertory. SULTANA is inspired by the experiences of Mor's own Sephardic great-grandmother, Sultana Magrisso, who emigrated with her family from Bulgaria to British Palestine in 1944, traveling through Greece, Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon.

Five Boroughs Music Festival's 2016-17 season concludes with a performance entitled OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: Chamber Works from Moravia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland and beyond by early music group Quicksilver on Friday, May 12 at 7:00 p.m. at King Manor Museum in Jamaica, Queens, and on Saturday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

Tickets for the East of the River concert-priced at $25 for general admission, $15 for Congregation Beth Elohim members, seniors and students-are available by visiting www.5bmf.org. Tickets for all other 5BMF concerts are also available by visiting www.5bmf.org.

Program Information

EAST OF THE RIVER

Nina Stern, recorders & chalumeau
Daphna Mor, recorders & voice
John Hadfield, percussion
Kane Mathis, oud
Jesse Kotansky, violin

Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
Congregation Beth Elohim
274 Garfield Place
Brooklyn, NY 11215

About East of the River
East of the River, founded by internationally-renowned recorder players Nina Stern and Daphna Mor, explores the timeless gems of the Medieval European classical repertory together with virtuosic and haunting melodies of the East. Focusing on the traditions of the Middle East, Armenia, North Africa and the Balkans, East of the River's music is arranged and interpreted by musicians whose backgrounds include classical, jazz and world music.

The group has performed on concert series including San Francisco Society for Early Music, Early Music Now (Milwaukee), Madison Early Music Festival, Academy of Early Music (Ann Arbor), Indianapolis Early Music, Five Boroughs Music Festival (New York, NY) Chautauqua Institution, Montclair State University's Peak Performances, the Logan Series at Penn State Erie, and in New York City venues as varied as Bargemusic, Joe's Pub, Le Poisson Rouge, Brooklyn Public Library and often performs at WQXR's annual Chanukah celebration at The Greene Space.

Stern and Mor, called "recorder virtuosos" by The New York Times, each have impressive careers as soloists and chamber music players and have appeared as a duo with the New York Philharmonic, Orchestra of St. Luke's, Music Before 1800, and the world music ensemble Pharoah's Daughter. In East of the River, Stern and Mor are often joined by varied performers such as acclaimed Turkish kanun virtuoso Tamer Pinarbasi, Balkan violinist Jesse Kotansky, and renowned percussionists Shane Shanahan and John Hadfield. Other collaborators include hammered dulcimer star Max ZT, composer/accordionist Uri Sharlin, oud/bass player Omer Avital and percussionist Glen Velez. East of the River's various artists have recorded and performed with artists Yo-Yo Ma, Philip Glass, Jordi Savall, Sting, Natalie Merchant, Aerosmith, Simon Shaheen and many others.

East of the River has recorded two albums: its self-titled debut album and Levantera.

About Five Boroughs Music Festival
Five Boroughs Music Festival's mission is to enrich communities and cultivate new audiences by bringing world-class, affordable chamber music to all corners of New York City. 5BMF collaborates with local cultural institutions to present up-and-coming artists alongside the genre's most distinguished performers, and challenges the standard definition of 'chamber music' by presenting a broad range of musical styles, from early music to contemporary works, world music and other non-classical forms.

Since 2007, 5BMF has presented nearly 50 traditional and contemporary chamber music programs in nearly ten complete cycles around NYC. Described as "imaginative" by The New York Times and "vital" by WQXR's Operavore blog, 5BMF's commitment to musical outreach and diverse programming has attracted positive attention from the NYC arts community from its earliest days. 5BMF's artist roster is comprised of diverse, talented emerging artists and distinguished musicians alike. Its venues are just as eclectic, and have included historic NYC landmarks such as Federal Hall, the University Church at Fordham University, Flushing Town Hall, King Manor Museum, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, among others.

5BMF's programming is rooted in familiar classical music traditions, but is inclusive of a broad range of styles; art song recitals, early music, new music and other non-classical forms are all represented. By employing a broad definition of chamber music and sustaining a commitment to artistic outreach by bringing world class programs to neighborhoods all over the city, 5BMF offers an affordable, intimate concert experience to a wide variety of New York City audiences.

Photo at top of release by Justin Lane

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