Michael Tilson Thomas Performs The Thomashefskys With Philly Orchestra

Michael Tilson Thomas guides The Philadelphia Orchestra and its audiences on a journey to the world of his grandparents, Bessie and Boris Thomashefsky, young immigrants from Eastern Europe who became theater superstars, in The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater (February 15 and 16). Mr. Tilson Thomas serves as host and narrator as this century-old world is revisited in a semi-staged presentation featuring the original music and dialogue of the Thomashefskys' plays, early audio and film clips and images from Tilson Thomas's own collection and other national archives. The journey and triumphs of Bessie and Boris Thomashefsky are vibrantly brought to life by Broadway stars Judy Blazer, Shuler Hensley, Ronit Widmann-Levy, and Eugene Brancoveanu, who join Mr. Tilson Thomas and 30 members of the Orchestra onstage.

February 15 marks the Jewish Community Night performance of The Thomashefskys, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Visit www.jewishphilly.org for more details.

All the material in The Thomashefskys is authentic-painstakingly researched and reconstructed by The Thomashefsky Project over the past 10 years. The Project was founded in July 1998 in order to rescue the story of the Thomashefskys and early American Yiddish theater's contribution to American cultural life. Through its work, many disintegrating scores have been located and preserved to recreate as true a version of the original works as is possible.

These reclaimed musical treasures present audiences with a musical sound that few have heard, integrating aspects of Eastern European klezmer and cantorial modes with American tones and rhythms. With time these components became more integrated and more American, as Eastern European Jewish composers became more engrossed in their new surroundings, greatly influencing composers like Irving Berlin and George Gershwin. The range of musical numbers performed in the show reflects this new, increasingly American musical sound.

The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater premiered at Carnegie Hall in April 2005, with words and music brought to life for the first time in a century. It has played to sold-out audiences ever since with many of the nation's leading orchestras.

*Please see attached pdf for more information about Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky and for complete artist biographies.*

 

SOUND WAVES: THE THOMASHEFSKYS

February 15 at 8:00 PM - Tuesday evening - Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

February 16 at 7:00 PM - Wednesday evening - Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Michael Tilson Thomas Conductor

Judy Blazer Vocalist

Shuler Hensley Vocalist

Ronit Widmann-Levy Vocalist

Eugene Brancoveanu Vocalist

The February 15 performance is made possible with generous support from Constance and Joseph Smukler's Hatikvah Fund.

The February 16 performance is made possible with generous support from the Hatikvah Fund and Michael and Susan Sklaroff.

Tickets: $25 - $103, 215.893.1999 or www.philorch.org.

 

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