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Jeruzalémská 7, Nové Město, Česko
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Can a Jewish musician love Wagner? A musical drama awaits you at the Jerusalem Synagogue—not just a concert, but a powerful story of identity, uprooting, and the shattering of illusions.
In the purchase form at the link, select Category 2 priced at CZK 700, choose the number of tickets, and enter the discount code KONCERTNIKLUB to receive a reduced price of CZK 290.
The renowned Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich, under the direction of Daniel Grossmann, brings to Prague the unique singspiel Mendele Lohengrin. Inspired by an 1898 short story, the work revives a long-lost world while posing questions that remain deeply relevant today.
The Story of the Evening
Mendele is a young klezmer musician from a small village who fulfills his lifelong dream—to visit imperial Vienna. There, he hears Wagner’s Lohengrin for the first time, an experience that changes his life forever. Captivated by this new music, he refuses to play anything else and earns the mocking nickname “Mendele Lohengrin” back home.
His passion, however, collides with a brutal truth: Richard Wagner, whose music Mendele adores, harbored deep hatred toward Jews. The moment the young man reads Wagner’s antisemitic writings, he destroys his instrument, and music in his village falls silent forever. This deeply moving story of the clash between klezmer tradition and European modernism leads you through emotions ranging from exhilaration to chilling silence.
Programme:
- Evgeni Orkin: Mendele Lohengrin (a singspiel based on a short story by Heinrich York-Steiner)
- Performers: Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich, Daniel Grossmann (conductor), Ethel Merhaut (vocals), Jan Sklenář (narration/acting)
About the Performers
- Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich (JCOM): An ensemble that defines itself as “the Jewish voice of the present.” Under the baton of Daniel Grossmann, it seeks unconventional paths to tradition and brings music back to places deeply connected with Jewish history. JCOM is an internationally acclaimed orchestra that has performed from Israel to North America.
- Ethel Merhaut (vocals): An Austrian singer and actress specializing in the repertoire of the first half of the 20th century. Her expression blends elements of jazz, swing, chanson, and cabaret. As an interpreter of Yiddish songs, she brings authenticity and theatrical intensity to the performance.
TICKETS:
Regular ticket prices range from 700 to 900 CZK. The discounted price for Concert Club members is 290 CZK.
In the purchase form at the link, select Category 2 priced at CZK 700, choose the number of tickets, and enter the discount code KONCERTNIKLUB to receive a reduced price of CZK 290.