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Tsippi Fleischer

ORATORIO 1492-1992

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TSIPPI FLEISCHER: “ORATORIO 1492-1992” – TO MARK THE FIFTH CENTENNIAL OF THE EXPULSION FROM SPAIN
The very first note already conveys a feeling of excitement and of things happening in the music itself, even without relating to the nationalistic aspect. The oratorio is sung in Hebrew, Spanish and Arabic, and includes texts by Ibn Gabirol, Shmuel Hanagid, Ben Lavrat, and other poets of Spain’s Golden Era.
The work was awarded the prize of the Public Council for Arts and Culture for excellence of performance. The music sounds both authentic and modern. Plucked instruments combine well with the orchestra, and the choir is outstanding. A more extended discussion of the work is to be found in “GITIT” No. 105.
The disc is already available in the stores, and new composers may also be encountered through it – Tanner, Van de Vate, and Sherwood Shaffer.

Shmuel Perets, excerpt from GITIT (Published by The Israel Jeunesses Musicales), No. 110, September 1993





FROM QUITE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
1492, the year of America’s “discovery” was, and is, no date for celebration, not only for the indigenous people of America: in Spain, Queen Isabella began the great expulsion of the Jewish population. Fleischer’s oratorio for symphony orchestra, chorus, guitars and mandolin ensemble describes half a millennium of Jewish history.
Memories of the Judeo-Spanish musical tradition, of which only traces have remained, open this contemplative work; the medieval texts are heard in Spanish, Arabic and Hebrew. In her endeavor to portray this sorrowful Jewish history – which for many has taken a hopeful turn with the resettlement of Israel – the composer has created a convincing testimony.

Regina Himmelbauer,"an.schläge", Vienna, April-May 1994





AUS EINER ETWAS ANDEREN PERSPEKTIVE
1492, das Jahr der „Entdeckung“ Amerikas, war und ist nicht nur für die indigenen Völker Amerikas kein Freudendatum: In Spanien begann Königin Isabella mit einer großen Vertreibung der jüdischen Bevölkerung. Fleischers Oratorium für Symphonieorchester, Chor sowie Gitarren- und Mandolinenensemble beschreibt ein halbes Jahrtausend jüdischer Geschichte. Rückerinnerungen an die nur noch in Spuren vorhandene jüdisch-spanische Musiktradition eröffnen diese Besinnung; die mittelalterlichen Texte sind auf Spanisch, Arabisch und Hebräisch zu hören. In ihrem Ringen um die Erfassung der leidvollen jüdischen Geschichte, die in der Wiederbesiedlung Israels für viele eine hoffnungsvolle Wende genommen hat, ist der Komponistin ein überzeugendes Bekenntnis gelungen.

Regina Himmelbauer, "an.schläge", Wien, April-May 1994

  
     
 

Track List - "Oratorio 1492-1992"

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Of Wine and of the Delights of Love Play

Of Turmoil (of Fear and of Suffering) Play

Of the Storm of Expulsion Play

Of Wandering (of Temptations, Guilt, Persecution and of Despair) Play

Of the Return to Zion Play