Chava Alberstein Returns and David Broza Debuts on the Kimmel Center’s Verizon World Pop Mix Series in Verizon Hall on March 1
February 16, 2007
Chava Alberstein
Israel’s one woman cultural ambassador Chava Alberstein returns to the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall on a co-bill with David Broza on Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 8pm. A singer with the remarkable ability to reach legions of fans in French, Spanish, Yiddish, and English, Chava Alberstein has been a performer of world music embodying the spirit of Israel for over forty years. A dozen of Alberstein’s records have gone gold, six platinum, and one triple platinum out of more than 54 recordings released through the years. Alberstein’s latest album, Lemele, was released in Israel in 2006 and includes Yiddish recordings made during a Czech Republic tour; the U.S. release is scheduled for fall 2007. Starting the evening off guitarist and composer David Broza will ignite audiences’ passions for flamenco and salsa-tinged folk-rock melodies with sensual snippets of poetry.
This is the twelfth concert in the Verizon World Pop Mix. Upcoming events in Verizon Hall include The Chieftains on Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 3pm and Barbara Cook and Audra McDonald on Sunday, March 18, 2007 at 7:30pm.
Tickets for Chava Alberstein and David Broza on Thursday, March 1, 2007 are priced at $30, $40, and $48 and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6am and later on performance evenings. (Additional fees may apply.) For group sales call 215-893-5883.
A limited number of $10 tickets are available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance at the Kimmel Center. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office beginning 2.5 hours prior to curtain time and 11:30am for matinees. Limit one ticket per person.
Chava Alberstein is undoubtedly Israel's most accomplished singer, having released over 54 recordings since the late 1960's. After a seven year hiatus, only recently has Chava embarked on a tour in Israel. The announcement of her 10 day January '07 concert tour was so well received, it sold out in a matter of hours and an additional six performances were added. Her music, a range of tender love songs to defiant songs about peace and oppression, include prayerful songs celebrating the beauty of the human form and more melancholy songs about loss, poverty, and solitude. A performer of "World Music," Chava has released more than 45 albums in Hebrew, six of which have been awarded the Kinor David prize, Israel's Grammy. She has also released seven albums in Yiddish, and an English album of standards ranging from Gershwin to Lennon and McCartney. In 2005, she was the recipient of an honorary Doctorate from Tel Aviv University for her 40-year long contribution to Israeli music and culture.
Alberstein’s family moved to Israel when she was only 4 years-old. Alberstein’s development as an artist mirrors Israel's development as a country; her growing pains are Israel's growing pains. Alberstein and Israel are even the same age and they both share a tiny but powerful stature. But Chava Alberstein sees herself as much as a singer of the world as just a singer of her beloved Israel. In 1998 Alberstein released The Well, an album of Yiddish poems that she transformed into folk songs, with the renowned Klezmer group the Klezmatics. Yiddish was the mother-tongue of Alberstein's family in the small town of Szczecin, Poland, where Chava was born.
David Broza has been known as a superstar in his homeland of Israel since his early 20's with his quadruple platinum debut album, The Woman By My Side. After 16 gold, platinum and multi-platinum releases later, he made his American debut with the release of Away From Home, featuring an all-star lineup of musicians including Sting, Weather Report drummer Omar Hakim, and Spyro Gyra saxophonist Jay Beckenstein. Broza has a style so diverse that he has passionate fans in every corner of the world. He has also gained a wealth of respect in American literary circles for his lyrical adaptations of poems written by some of the greats. In addition to his multi-cultural pop albums, Broza is the creator of a classical suite which has been performed with orchestras all over the world. His song "Together," co-written with Ramsey McClean, was the theme song for the UNICEF 50th anniversary celebration in more than 148 countries. His Israeli anthem for peace, "Yihve Tove," based on a poem written by Yehonatan Geffen and adapted by American lyric writer Terry Cox, was performed at Rabin memorials in New York's Madison Square Garden, Washington, Boston and other venues.
Broza has played for Israeli soldiers in bunkers on the front lines, wounded soldiers in hospitals and civilians in shelters who were evacuated from their homes during bomb raids. He flew himself & Al DiMeola to play to American Troops during the Gulf War. Wherever there is a need and an opportunity for Broza to use the power of music to heal and promote peace and unity, there he goes.
Kimmel Center Presents' 2006/2007 season is supported by: Mellon Financial Corporation, University of Pennsylvania Health System, National Endowment for the Arts, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, ARC Wheeler, The William Penn Foundation, The Wachovia Foundation, Verizon Foundation, The Presser Foundation, Philadelphia Music Project and Dance Advance, Initiatives of The Pew Charitable Trust administered by The University of the Arts. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Vehicle of Kimmel Center Presents Jazz and World Pop programming. NBC-10 is a Media Partner for Kimmel Center Presents. The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly.com are media sponsors for the Great Orchestras on Tour series.
FREE AT THE KIMMEL events are made possible through the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts Community Access Program supported by a generous grant from Wachovia Foundation.
KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS
Thursday, March 1, 2007 | 8pm
Verizon Hall
Verizon World Pop Mix Series
Chava Alberstein
Oved Efrat, guitar
Avi Agababa, percussion
David Broza, guitar and vocals
UPCOMING FREE AT THE KIMMEL EVENTS:
Friday, March 2 | 6:15pm
Merck Arts Education Center
Artist Chat: Philly and the State of Jazz
Join us for a Free Artist Chat as we explore the state of Jazz in Philly, a city with deep jazz roots. All About Jazz (www.allaboutjazz.com) Founder and Publisher Michael Ricci will demonstrate the regional and national capabilities of his acclaimed web site, with a discussion about where jazz has been in Philadelphia and where it might be headed with Rick Lawn, University of the Arts Dean of the College of Performing Arts; Maureen Malloy and/or Jeff Duperon from WRTI-FM; West Oak Lane Jazz Festival founders and organizers Warren Oree and Graziella D’Amelio; all led by Kimmel Center VP of programming Mervon Mehta. This event takes place prior to the Mellon Jazz Fridays performance at 8pm in Verizon Hall with Eddie Palmieri and Poncho Sanchez.
Saturday, March 3 | 11am
Commonwealth Plaza Stage - PNC Grow Up Great
Rebecca Frezza
Rebecca Frezza brings folksy, melodic tunes to the Commonwealth Plaza stage for kids and the whole family to enjoy. Her newly released CD "Tall and Small" has won the NAPPA Gold and iParenting Media Awards. Perfect for ages one to four.
Sunday, March 4 | 1:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
Kinski
Kinski ensemble explore Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Tierkreis, 12 pieces based on the signs of the Zodiac. Saxophone, clarinet, accordion, vibraphone, electric bass and guitar members improvise on stage together to then transition into the colors and textures of the group.
Sunday, March 4 | Post-concert
Verizon Hall
Organ Postlude
Join us for an organ postlude in Verizon Hall following Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig ticketed performance.
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