Passover begins on Wednesday night at sundown, and Jews in our region and around the world will gather for a Seder, commemorating the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Join us on WRTI to hear music for Passover and learn more about the festive holiday, which ends on April 13.
Our classical programming on Wednesday, April 5 will celebrate Passover with music by Ernest Bloch (cellist Edgar Moreau's new recording of "From Jewish Life," composed in 1924), Fromental Halévy (the prayer from the Seder scene of his opera La Juive), and Salamone Rossi (two settings of psalms from the Song of Songs, traditionally read on Passover), as well as arrangements of Passover songs by harpist Rachel van Voorhees.
From 5 to 6 p.m., join us in welcoming the first night of Passover with our annual broadcast of A Musical Feast for Passover with Itzhak Perlman, and hear his heartwarming, musical memories of Passover Seders.
During classical hours on Thursday, April 6, you’ll hear Passover-related music by Salamone Rossi (two excerpts from the Song of Songs) and Elmer Bernstein (a suite from The Ten Commandments).
The Passover Story with Theodore Bikel (recorded before his passing in 2015) and vocal ensemble The Western Wind will air from 9 to 10 p.m. on WRTI HD-2. They present 25 eclectic selections that, along with an inspiring narration, serve as a musical documentary of Passover.
We wish all of our listeners celebrating Passover a Happy Pesach!