Nikolayev is a performance of music composed by members of the Charitonow family, who lived in the Russian Empire town of Nikolayev at the end of the 19th century. Avraham and his two sons, Aharon and Sholom, were renowned musicians, as well as kosher butchers in their community in what is now known as Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Their compositions from the late 19th and early 20th centuries continue to be actively sung and performed today in the Hasidic world. From soulful melodies to raucous dance tunes, this concert will be a window into a living history, with a world-class klezmer band.

New York Folklore is a membership organization, open to all, concerned with furthering cultural equity and strengthening the understanding of the role of folk and traditional arts in our lives. We support folk and traditional artists, community cultural experts, community-based cultural organizations, and academic and public sector folklorists. Learn more about them at www.nyfolklore.org.

This programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

The Nikolayev Kapelye visits Woodmere, Long Island, to play a program of the Charitonow Greatest Hits: Hasidic Nigunim from the fabled family of butcher-composers. Featuring Mirele Rosenberger on piano, Zisl Slepovitch on clarinet, and Jordan Hirsch on trumpet.

This concert is made possible by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts; the fiscal sponsorship of the Center for Traditional Music and Dance; and the generosity of The Zweig Law Firm P.C.

Trio Concert of partially improvised compositions, with pianist Melinda Faylor and flautist Melanie Chirignan. Multi-disciplinary experience featuring time lapse videos of artist Mercedes Soriano painting to our music. Possible in thanks to a grant from the Saratoga Arts Center.

A performance of Jewish traditional songs for cello, violin, and accordion; in preparation for the prayer service marking the week before the Jewish new year. With Josh Sussman on violin and Sergei Nirenburg on accordion.

The Charitonow Greatest Hits is a round up of music composed by Avraham, Aharon, and Shalom Charitonow. Laura’s band of world-class klezmer musicians will assemble to make new renditions of these soulful melodies and raucous dance tunes. This concert is part of a traveling series of performances for the Folk Arts Grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, which will bring this pillar of Hasidic musical heritage across New York State. The series will kick off in the home community for these nigunim, the heart of Crown Heights, Brooklyn.