Baroque Masterwork Concert: "Ester, Liberatrice Del Popolo Ebreo"

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The oratorio bubbles with excitement.
–Allan Altman, American Record Guide

This performance proclaims that Ester slumbers in darkness no longer.
–Joseph Newsome, Voix des Arts

A musical recovery, that of this forgotten oratorio, shamelessly extroverted and of great communicative relevance.
–Marçal Borotau, Sonograma

In celebration of the critically-praised Navona Records release of the first and only complete recording of Ester, Liberatrice Del Popolo Ebreo ("Esther, Liberator of the Jewish People") by Alessandro Stradella (1639–1682), members of the original cast reunite for a special performance of this 1673 masterwork in honor of the Purim holiday.

Exploring themes of courage, self-acceptance, ambition, justice, and power, Stradella’s Ester tells the story of a timid girl, secret Jew, and Persian Queen who summons the bravery to save her people from annihilation. While the oratorio, a large-scale musical narrative, derives its plot from the biblical story of The Book of Esther, modern audiences will surely find resonance and relevance in the journey of a lone woman who triumphs over tyranny.

Originally intended to be played in a Baroque palace for an aristocratic Catholic audience, this bracingly innovative work composed by a volatile genius was largely lost to time before its recent rediscovery and revival. Join us on Sunday, March 8th at 3pm as Stradella’s Ester resounds again in the Museum at Eldridge Street's magnificently restored 1887 Main Sanctuary.

Musicians:
Ester: Jessica Gould, soprano
Speranza Celeste: Sonia Tedla, soprano
Mardocheo: Kinneret Ely, countertenor
Aman: Gabriele Lombardi, baritone
Assuero: Salvo Vitale, bass
Members of the Camerata Grimani chamber ensemble

Concert Tickets (Include Museum Admission):
Adult $30 (at-the-door $35)
Student / Senior $25 (at-the-door $30)
Child Under 18 $15 (at-the-door $20)
Cool Culture Pass / SNAP Benefits $5

There is no reserved seating.

Copies of the CD will be available for purchase at this event.
This performance is presented in partnership with Salon Sanctuary Concerts.

By registering, you agree that the information you provide will be visible to both the Museum at Eldridge Street and Salon Sanctuary.

As the concert date approaches, the Museum will be offering a series of related public programming. Keep your eyes on our !

Founded in 2009 by Artistic Director Jessica Gould, Salon Sanctuary Concerts offers the special chance to hear pre-Romantic music in intimate venues that complement the historical context of the repertoire.

Pleased to develop and present special projects that view history through the prism of music, Salon Sanctuary's seasons feature many original programs which endeavor to encourage understanding among people of different faiths through the performance of sacred repertoire in houses of worship open to all. The series has pursued a path apart, garnering critical praise through daring programming, and continues to attract a diverse audience for its innovative offerings.

The Museum at Eldridge Street is housed in the Eldridge Street Synagogue, a magnificent National Historic Landmark that has been meticulously restored. Opened in 1887, the synagogue is the first great house of worship built in America by Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Today, it is the only remaining marker of the great wave of Jewish migration to the Lower East Side that is open to a broad public who wishes to visit Jewish New York. Exhibits, tours, public programs, and education initiatives tell the story of Jewish immigrant life, explore architecture and historic preservation, inspire reflection on cultural continuity, and foster collaboration and exchange between people of all faiths, heritages, and interests.

Image Credit: "Esther before Ahasuerus," Artemisia Gentileschi (Italian, born Rome 1593–died Naples 1654 or later), 1620s, oil on canvas, 82 in. × 8 ft. 11 3/4 in. (208.3 × 273.7 cm). Gift of Elinor Dorrance Ingersoll, 1969. Object Number: 69.281, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

The Museum at Eldridge Street’s public programs are made possible, in part, by the City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council, and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Additional underwriting is provided by generous supporters including: The Rene Bloch Foundation, Elias A. Cohen Foundation, William and Dewey Edelman Charitable Trust, The Alice Lawrence Foundation, Inc., Lilly Endowment Inc., The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Michael Tuch Foundation.

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