Mishkan Torah to Present Spectacular Intergenerational Mother's Day Concert

On Mother’s Day this year, will turn itself into Greenbelt’s equivalent of Carnegie Hall or the Kennedy Center. In the spirit of its From Generation to Generation Theme, Mishkan Torah is commemorating Mother’s Day on May 13, 2012, at 2 p.m. by presenting a concert by a constellation of fourteen professional quality Mishkan Torah artists. In keeping with the intergenerational spirit of the day, the program includes performances by a mother and daughter; by two fathers and sons; and by a father, mother, and son combination. The concert will also feature original works performed by two Mishkan Torah composers more than half a century apart in age. The occasion is not to be missed!

Each artist who has agreed to appear is a professionally and classically trained veteran of numerous concerts and stage appearances, including six performers from the recent Purim Spiel at Mishkan Torah and two from last year’s acclaimed Young Performers Series. In keeping with the Mother’s Day and Generation to Generation aspects of this unprecedented event, the concert is heralded as “Generations United.”

The following Mishkan Torah stars of the first magnitude have agreed to appear at the grand event. They are listed in alphabetical order. Pianist Don Anderson will present two Preludes by Scriabin and an Etude-Tableau by Rachmaninoff. Pianist David Charney will present Beethoven Sonata Opus 54 and a Rhapsody by Brahms. Cantor Yael Fischman will perform songs by Schubert, Mahler, and Bernstein on the always intriguing theme of young love. Bassoonist Darelynn Fung will perform the Hindemith Bassoon Sonata, and then a bassoon duet with her mother, Diane Fung, in keeping with Mother’s Day. Young Performer and tenor Ben Greenfield will perform a song by Brahms and the delightful operatic tenor standard “Una Furtiva Lagrima” from “L’Elisir d’Amore” by Donizetti. In another intergenerational performance, Ben will join his father, Cantor Phil Greenfield, and his mother, flutist Carolyn Sonnen, in the ethereal duet from Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers.”

Tenor Adam Juran will sing two favorite opera arias, Lenski’s Aria from Tchaikovsky’s passionate “Eugene Onegin” and the poignant Flower Song from Bizet’s “Carmen.” Resident composer and baritone Don Juran will perform three songs, including Don’s own setting of a poem by his son Joshua “The Cherry Tree.” Don will also sing “Upon the Hearth the Fire Is Red” by Tolkien and Swann, and King Gama’s ironic comic monologue “If You Give Me Your Attention” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Princess Ida.” Don will be joined by Ben and Phil Greenfield to perform Don’s own “Rise Up, My Love,” a setting of a text from “Song of Songs” which Don wrote as a present to his wife Carol for their 40th anniversary. That number was selected for performance by Shalshelet Foundation in Washington last December.

Comic baritone Jeffrey Rosen will channel his inner Oscar Wilde by performing “Am I Alone and Unobserved?” Reginald Bunthorne’s monologue from Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Patience.” Young Performer and French hornist Joshua Rosen will premiere a French horn concerto of his own composition. Soprano Nadine Wobus will perform the Blues classic “Birth of the Blues,” with French horn accompaniment from Joshua Rosen, and the gripping “Supper Time” by Irving Berlin. Finally, flutist and Mishkan Torah Choir Director Rachel White will present a sonata by baroque composer George Frederic Telemann. The celebrated and renowned local pianist and collaborative artist Maestro Andrew Kraus will appear to accompany the applicable performers. The program is subject to change, and most likely there will be a Mishkan Torah surprise or two.

Tickets for the event are only $15 if reserved in advance; $18 at the door; or $10 for pre-teenagers. Tickets may be ordered and reserved by mail at Mishkan Torah Synagogue, 10 Ridge Roard, Greenbelt, Maryland 20770 or online. The two o’clock starting time allows patrons to enjoy a Mother’s Day Brunch or dinner and still attend the concert. If the past is any indication, this concert should sell out, so make your reservations early. An event like this comes only a few times a generation, so don’t miss this one! See you there!