TORONTO FESTIVAL: ASHKENAZ A Festival of New Yiddish Culture

[Bruce Rosensweet <brosen...>]

PRESS RELEASE (April 3, 1995)

ASHKENAZ: A FESTIVAL OF NEW YIDDISH CULTURE 

Over the past two decades, Jewish artists have been returning to their
European roots in search of information and inspiration. What began as a
North American revival of traditional forms has blossomed into a uniquely
contemporary expression, propelling Yiddish culture beyond revival into
the modern world. 

>From July 4 through 9, 1995  Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Canada will
see an unprecedented gathering  of  "Yiddish" performance and visual
artists at the world's first public event of its kind, ASHKENAZ: A
FESTIVAL OF NEW YIDDISH CULTURE. 

Working in music, theatre, modern dance, storytelling, literature, film ,
visual arts, and crafts, these artists will come together for a weekend of
performance,  exploration and celebration of the unfolding world of
Yiddish-based cultural expression. 

*SOME* of the artists and performances scheduled include (subject to change):

?  8 world-renowned klezmer bands including BRAVE OLD WORLD, the
KLEZMATICS, the        
   FLYING BULGAR KLEZMER BAND + 4, SHIRIM
?  jazz artist John Zorn's MASADA
?  Hungarian masters of the string tradition MUZSIKAS 
?  A Traveling Jewish Theatre's THE LAST YIDDISH POET
?  singer, director and actor Dora Wasserman
?  Richard Teitelbaum's multi-media opera GOLEM featuring Shelly Hirsch,
   David Moss, George Lewis, Carlos Zingaro, and Richard Teitelbaum
?  Michael Wex/Heiko Lehmann Theatre Project GOD IN PARIS
?  IN THE MOTHER TONGUE: Reclaiming women's voices in Yiddish culture
?  DANCE EXCHANGE with Liz Lerman
?  art exhibition ECHOES OF ANGELS
?  Late Night Cabaret of Dreams 
?  workshops and demonstrations in music, dance and crafts
?  poets, singers, authors, performance artists, public forums.
?  a myriad of hands-on activities for the whole family, including a    
   participatory PARADE created by alumni of BREAD AND PUPPET THEATRE


ASHKENAZ is part of  Molson DRY Summer Music at Toronto's
internationally-acclaimed lakeside performance space and cultural park,
HARBOURFRONT CENTRE. 

Most of the performances, workshops and demonstrations will be presented
free of charge. Make ASHKENAZ a part of your summer plans. 

Produced in Association with Harbourfront Centre with the support of the
Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Ministry of Culture, Tourism
and Recreation and the Ontario Arts Council.

Sponsored by Molson Breweries, Ontario Division.

For more information on the festival, the public can phone the
Harbourfront Centre information line: (416) 973-3000

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For program (May/June) e-mail brosen (at) io(dot)org(dot)

MEDIA  *ONLY*  CONTACT: 

Dianne Weinrib, D.W.Communications / Ashkenaz 
tel (416) 861-0286, fax (416) 363-8702 

Kelly Lettner, Harbourfront Centre 
tel (416) 973-4430, fax (416) 973-6055.

Please help spread the word by including festival news in appropriate
newspapers, newsletters, bulletins, and magazines.

-- 
Bruce Rosensweet
Red Door Productions
brosen (at) io(dot)org