Impressions 2019

As an unmistakable symbol against right-wing radicalism, anti-semitism and xenophobia, and in response to the anti-semitic attack on the synagogue in Halle on October 9th of this year at Yom Kippur, the highest Jewish holiday, the Louis Lewandowski Festival – World Festival of Synagogue Music donates a concert to the city of Halle an der Saale as a piece of German-Jewish culture and tradition.

As in previous years, there was also a pre-opening concert. This year the Moran Choir from Israel under the direction of Noami Faran performed in the impressive Bärensaal  of the Alten Stadthaus in Berlin-Mitte

The opening concert of this year’s festival took place in the St. Nikolaikirche in Potsdam. The opening speech was held by the Minister President of Brandenburg, Dr. Dietmar Woidke. The Berlin Symphony Orchestra performed together with the Synagogal Ensemble Berlin.

After the festival has dedicated itself to more and more composers, the name giver – Louis Lewandowski – should also be given extensive coverage. Therefore a concert was held in the synagogue Pestalozzistraße, which is dedicated exclusively to him and his pieces.

Even far away from the heart of Berlin, in the hospital church in the Wuhlegarten in Berlin-Biesdorf, a festival choir could be heard, namely the choir from Belgrade The Baruch Brothers – according to unanimous opinion the oldest still active Jewish choir in the world.

In the grandiose Reinbeck Halls, formerly the industrial production facilities of AEG, which was founded here by Walter Rathenau, a concert was held where the audience was invited to sing along the Zamir Chorale of Boston, the Jerusalem Academy Chamber Choir. Also the Saxofonquadrat from Berlin performed.

And then the highlight: The grand final concert with all choirs of the 2019 festival in Germany’s largest and most beautiful synagogue, the Rykestraße Synagogue in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg. We are proud and happy that the Governing Mayor of Berlin – a patron of the festival – had given the welcome address.