THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 22, 1996 TAG: 9603200250
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Gomley Chesed Rabbi Philip Krohn staged the Portsmouth synagogue's first Cantorial Concert in 1985 to ``present the cantor as a performing artist.''
``I wanted to introduce the art of the cantor to the general public,'' Krohn said. ``And the reception has been very good among non-Jews as well as members of our own congregation and others.''
Over the years Krohn, a trained cantor with a master's degree from the School of Sacred Music in New York, has invited well-known colleagues from around the country to join him in the annual concerts, which feature not only liturgical music but also a selection of music from opera and Broadway.
The 11th annual Cantorial Concert at Gomley Chesed in Portsmouth on Sunday will spotlight soprano Yael Fischman, cantor at Temple Israel in Norfolk, and baritone Karl S. Kritz, cantor at Temple Israel in Long Beach, N.Y.
Former Virginia Symphony Director Winston Dan Vogel will return to the area to accompany the cantors on the piano. Vogel has participated in the event each year.
Joining the cantors this year will be the Virginia Children's Chorus conducted by Carol Thomas Downing and accompanied by Bobbie Kesler.
``They are opening the concert and will sing a group of Hebrew selections and a variety of other music,'' Krohn said.
The chorus, founded in 1992 by Downing, includes youngsters between the ages of 6 and 16. The young singers made their debut with the Virginia Symphony in 1992 and have continued to participate in the symphony's ``pops'' series.
Cantor Fischman is one of a growing number of women who have excelled as cantors in recent years, Krohn said. A graduate of the Cantors Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, she formerly was cantor at B'nai Ememt Synagogue in St. Louis Park, Minn. She produced ``B'Kol Ishah: The Voice of Women Cantors,'' an all-female cantorial concert.
In addition to liturgical music, she will sing opera aria, German Lieder and French art songs.
Cantor Kritz is a more traditional cantor, Krohn said. He has appeared with many well-known singers, including Jan Peerce, Eva Kikova, Licia Albanese and Marguerite Piazza. One of his selections on the program will be ``Bluebird of Happiness,'' a song made famous by Jan Peerce.
The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Gomley Chesed. Tickets are $10 per person and may be bought at the door or in advance at the synagogue - call 484-1019. Special rates will be offered to groups of 10 or more. by CNB