GERSHON-ITSKHOK SIROTA (1874-1943) was one of the leading cantors of Europe during the "Golden Age of Hazzanut" (cantorial music), sometimes referred to as the "Jewish Caruso."
Sirota began his cantorial career in Odessa, then spent eight years in Vilna as cantor of the Shtatshul (State Synagogue) there. It was in Vilna that he began his collaboration with choirmaster Leo Lowe, which would continue throughout his career. He performed on numerous occasions throughout Europe, and in 1902 he sang at a reception in honor of Theodore Herzl, the founder of the Zionist Movement.
In 1907, Sirota assumed the position of cantor at the presigious Tlomackie Street Synagogue in Warsaw. He continued his concert appearances around Europe, and even sang in Carnegie Hall in New York City to a sold out crowd. While cantor at the Tlomackie Synagogue, he also began recording his music.
The first Jewish records, made in Vienna, Berlin, and St. Petersburg and spread across the whole Jewish world, were of the two famous khazonim: Gershon Sirota and Zavel Kvartin.As the technology improved, he was constantly rerecording the songs, so that listeners can trace the improvement of his rich tenor voice over the years.
While Sirota eventually left the synagogue over disputes concerning his frequent performances, he continued to live in Warsaw. Nevertheless, he travelled frequently, and his concerts were attended by Jewish and Christian audiences alike--and according to some accounts, even by Caruso.
Caught in Warsaw during the Nazi invasion of Poland during World War II, he spent his final years living in the Warsaw Ghetto, and died in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943.
Thank you for posting that treasure! I had not heard of Sirota before and agree that he is one of the greatest tenors in recorded history with a select few such as Yossele Rosenblatt and Caruso. What a terrible loss his assassination by the Nazi beasts was but at least you are allowing his unique voice and neshama to reach us today in spite of the tragedy.
i agree that Sirota was one of the all-time greatest tenors. please take in account that "haazino elokim" was recorded when Sirota was 54 years old!
ps
sorry, but i don't think that Yossele Rosenblatt was a good singer. of course, Rosenblatt was a great cantor, but his voice was so "far" from Josef Schmidt of Sholom Katz
more of that, my personal opinion is that as a singer Rosenblatt reach his "top" in the end of 1920s, when his voice was not in good condition
isnt this from the compilation shabat mysteries ? I love it. but there are some more beautiful takes on this cd. perhaps you could post the vechullom mekablim of moishele soorkies.
If it's possible to suffuse a song with lament, mysticism, heartbreak, it can be found in Cantor Pinchik. Hear Rozo d'Shabbos on this site, and I do mean all 8+ minutes of it. If the soul of Judaism is not found in this song, naked and exquisite, it is found nowhere. Ineffable, heartbreaking, glorious.
hi.my love for opera is unbounding the many beautiful voicesand their singing .but vi must say nothing .and i mean Nothing compares to the voice of GershonSirota .His version of the psalm 55 just does not compare to anything i have ever heard .thank you peter kutcher
Can anyone tell me the name of the cantor whose voice is heard in a pivotal Yom Kippur scene in the movie "Enemies, A Love Story", where Ron Silver's character laments the loss of his children in the holocaust? I'd like to know, also, the name of the piece sung. The scene and accompanying music are incredibly moving.
Sirota had a fabulous voice. Wasn't he featured in that classic film, The Dybbuk? I did not know that he had died in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
This melody, long thought to be by Stradella, but now known to have been composed by Rossini, was also recorded by Richard Tucker, in Italian.
Perhaps the greatest cantor to have become an opera star was Hermann Jadlowker, first tenor of the Kaiserliche Oper Berlin, Kaiser William II's favourite tenor, founder of the Tel Aviv conservatory.
if we speak about Sirota's operatic records, we shall remember another two his records. one in Italian "Ah, si, ben mio coll'essere" from "Il Trovatore" and the second "Unter bluhenden Mandelbaumen" from "Euryanthe" in German
Actually Tucker sang as a cantor differently in the Temple then in recording where it is reformed he was a Conservative Jew not Orthodox but not Reform and sang with an all male chorus and was considered by those that heard him not on recording but live On the Jewish holidays as one of the best and I HEARD HIM EVERY YEAR on the holidays, his recordings are Reformed and not many of the same prayers sung live of course, Sirota was a fantastic voice and tech. I never heard him, too young at 67.
I have him singing the tosca aria Lucean (3rd act) but in Italian I believe this one is in Hebrew also did trov in Italian, Meyerbeer Huguenots aria also=-- his voice was very large and they say would rattle a chandlier in the temple.
Quite possibly the greatest tenor in all history...the Jewish Caruso.
The cantors who chose to sing opera like Schmidt and Tucker became the best operatic tenors...and they were not even the greatest cantors...imagine if this man had gone into opera.
The most glorious voice ever.Once while Sirota was on U.S. tour Caruso himself went to hear him,after the concert Caruso told him:"We opera singers are lucky that you didn't become an Opera singer yourself"
GERSHON-ITSKHOK SIROTA (1874-1943) was one of the leading cantors of Europe during the "Golden Age of Hazzanut" (cantorial music), sometimes referred to as the "Jewish Caruso."
MrGer2295 1 month ago
Sirota began his cantorial career in Odessa, then spent eight years in Vilna as cantor of the Shtatshul (State Synagogue) there. It was in Vilna that he began his collaboration with choirmaster Leo Lowe, which would continue throughout his career. He performed on numerous occasions throughout Europe, and in 1902 he sang at a reception in honor of Theodore Herzl, the founder of the Zionist Movement.
Molto Bello!!! Thank you for sharing this video.
MrGer2295 1 month ago
In 1907, Sirota assumed the position of cantor at the presigious Tlomackie Street Synagogue in Warsaw. He continued his concert appearances around Europe, and even sang in Carnegie Hall in New York City to a sold out crowd. While cantor at the Tlomackie Synagogue, he also began recording his music.
Molto Bello!!! Thank you for sharing this video.
MrGer2295 1 month ago
The first Jewish records, made in Vienna, Berlin, and St. Petersburg and spread across the whole Jewish world, were of the two famous khazonim: Gershon Sirota and Zavel Kvartin.As the technology improved, he was constantly rerecording the songs, so that listeners can trace the improvement of his rich tenor voice over the years.
Molto Bello!!! Thank you for sharing this video.
MrGer2295 1 month ago
While Sirota eventually left the synagogue over disputes concerning his frequent performances, he continued to live in Warsaw. Nevertheless, he travelled frequently, and his concerts were attended by Jewish and Christian audiences alike--and according to some accounts, even by Caruso.
Molto Bello!!! Thank you for sharing this video.
MrGer2295 1 month ago
Caught in Warsaw during the Nazi invasion of Poland during World War II, he spent his final years living in the Warsaw Ghetto, and died in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943.
Molto Bello!!! Thank you for sharing this video.
MrGer2295 1 month ago
gershon sirota is without doubt divinity in song andvoice .Ihave heard all the greatest voices that have been recorded but nothing like like this .
where are voices like that today? what a pity.
peter (obsessed)
56468able 7 months ago
Thank you for posting that treasure! I had not heard of Sirota before and agree that he is one of the greatest tenors in recorded history with a select few such as Yossele Rosenblatt and Caruso. What a terrible loss his assassination by the Nazi beasts was but at least you are allowing his unique voice and neshama to reach us today in spite of the tragedy.
OperaFanCantor 7 months ago in playlist Chozonus
i agree that Sirota was one of the all-time greatest tenors. please take in account that "haazino elokim" was recorded when Sirota was 54 years old!
ps
sorry, but i don't think that Yossele Rosenblatt was a good singer. of course, Rosenblatt was a great cantor, but his voice was so "far" from Josef Schmidt of Sholom Katz
more of that, my personal opinion is that as a singer Rosenblatt reach his "top" in the end of 1920s, when his voice was not in good condition
agneyvefunb 7 months ago
isnt this from the compilation shabat mysteries ? I love it. but there are some more beautiful takes on this cd. perhaps you could post the vechullom mekablim of moishele soorkies.
israelbakon 1 year ago
If it's possible to suffuse a song with lament, mysticism, heartbreak, it can be found in Cantor Pinchik. Hear Rozo d'Shabbos on this site, and I do mean all 8+ minutes of it. If the soul of Judaism is not found in this song, naked and exquisite, it is found nowhere. Ineffable, heartbreaking, glorious.
victorlapides 1 year ago
hi.my love for opera is unbounding the many beautiful voicesand their singing .but vi must say nothing .and i mean Nothing compares to the voice of GershonSirota .His version of the psalm 55 just does not compare to anything i have ever heard .thank you peter kutcher
56468able 1 year ago
Can anyone tell me the name of the cantor whose voice is heard in a pivotal Yom Kippur scene in the movie "Enemies, A Love Story", where Ron Silver's character laments the loss of his children in the holocaust? I'd like to know, also, the name of the piece sung. The scene and accompanying music are incredibly moving.
giordani19 2 years ago
Wonderful, intensly emotional singing. Thanks.
tomfroekjaer 2 years ago
This moves me down to the very core of my soul...
BavonWW 2 years ago
hauntingly beautiful voice
sk8onfaith 3 years ago
Sirota had a fabulous voice. Wasn't he featured in that classic film, The Dybbuk? I did not know that he had died in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
This melody, long thought to be by Stradella, but now known to have been composed by Rossini, was also recorded by Richard Tucker, in Italian.
Perhaps the greatest cantor to have become an opera star was Hermann Jadlowker, first tenor of the Kaiserliche Oper Berlin, Kaiser William II's favourite tenor, founder of the Tel Aviv conservatory.
AulicExclusiva 3 years ago
What about Tucker? He was a professional cantor too.
GermanOperaSinger 2 years ago 2
Tucker was wonderful too. I believe he was an ordained synagogue cantor (chazzan).
AulicExclusiva 2 years ago
Sirota is my favorite among the famous cantors of the 20th century.
gbarnardoh 3 years ago
if we speak about Sirota's operatic records, we shall remember another two his records. one in Italian "Ah, si, ben mio coll'essere" from "Il Trovatore" and the second "Unter bluhenden Mandelbaumen" from "Euryanthe" in German
agneyvefunb 3 years ago
Actually Tucker sang as a cantor differently in the Temple then in recording where it is reformed he was a Conservative Jew not Orthodox but not Reform and sang with an all male chorus and was considered by those that heard him not on recording but live On the Jewish holidays as one of the best and I HEARD HIM EVERY YEAR on the holidays, his recordings are Reformed and not many of the same prayers sung live of course, Sirota was a fantastic voice and tech. I never heard him, too young at 67.
pearlmuth3 3 years ago
I have him singing the tosca aria Lucean (3rd act) but in Italian I believe this one is in Hebrew also did trov in Italian, Meyerbeer Huguenots aria also=-- his voice was very large and they say would rattle a chandlier in the temple.
pearlmuth3 3 years ago
Quite possibly the greatest tenor in all history...the Jewish Caruso.
The cantors who chose to sing opera like Schmidt and Tucker became the best operatic tenors...and they were not even the greatest cantors...imagine if this man had gone into opera.
GermanOperaSinger 3 years ago 6
The most glorious voice ever.Once while Sirota was on U.S. tour Caruso himself went to hear him,after the concert Caruso told him:"We opera singers are lucky that you didn't become an Opera singer yourself"
robertoesquivelzeta 3 years ago 5