Semer Ensemble

Concert Supported by the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany and Lufthansa

Founded in 2012, the Semer Ensemble is dedicated to music recorded by Jewish artists during the Nazi period on the almost unknown Berlin-based Semer record label. Destroyed by the Nazis in 1938, the entire Semer catalogue of hundreds of precious, unique recordings was considered lost forever until it was rediscovered in the early 2000s.

The Semer Ensemble features an all-star lineup of Yiddish music artists led by accordionist and pianist Alan Bern, of Brave Old World, and including acclaimed singer, accordionist and mandolin player Daniel Kahn; violinist Mark “Stempenyuk” Kovnatskiy, who performs with many of the most prominent ensembles of the Yiddish cultural revival; world music polyglot and bassist Martin Lillich; Forshpil singer and leader Sasha Lurje; Fayvish singer and leader Fabian Schnedler; and Grammy-winning singer and accordionist Lorin Sklamberg, of the Klezmatics.

Join YIVO for a performance of the Semer Ensemble featuring songs in Yiddish, German, Russian, and Hebrew accompanied by English subtitles.