PERFORMANCE

Morgan Library & Museum
The Sarajevo Haggadah: Music of the Book

Merima Kljuco - Composer and Accordion
Seth Knopp - Piano
Bart Woodstrup - Artist

"A multimedia work composed by Merima Ključo, Sarajevo Haggadah: Music of the Book traces the incredible journey of this most treasured 14th-century Hebrew illuminated manuscript. Inspired by the musical traditions of Spain, Italy, Austria, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ključo collaborates with artist Bart Woodstrup and pianist Seth Knopp to present a multimedia performance exploring the Sarajevo Haggadah as a symbol of diaspora and return. A discussion with Merima Ključo and Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and author of People of The Book, the historical novel that inspired this production, will follow the performance. This New York premiere concert coincides with the exhibition Hebrew Illumination for Our Time: The Art of Barbara Wolff, and is cosponsored by the Centro Primo Levi New York (www.primolevicenter.org).

The Sarajevo Haggadah performance was commissioned by the Foundation for Jewish Culture's New Jewish Culture Network, a league of North American performing arts presenters committed to the creation and touring of innovative projects, and developed in residence at Yellow Barn. The New Jewish Culture Network has received major support from the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Anne Abramson Foundation, the Arnow Family Fund and other donors.

The exhibition Hebrew Illumination for Our Time: The Art of Barbara Wolff will be open at 6 p.m. for concert attendees"

This was a very powerful performance by a pianist, an accordionist, and a video media artist.  It was based on a book I read several years ago, People of the Book.