4A
Federation Star
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
December 2021
“Bordello, The Musical” She’ll be the Perfect Girl for You By Arlene Stolnitz
O
riginal musical programs based on historical events in Jewish history always amaze me. How clever are these author/composers who create such innovative works! Case in point: an article I recently wrote, called “To Bigotry No Sanction,” published in the November 2021 issue of Sarasota’s The Jewish News as well as Naples’ Federation Star and Ft. Myers’ L’Chayim. It concerns a cantata written about George Washington’s affirmation of the “free and equal status of Jews as American citizens.” Other articles I have written include Julia Wolfe’s musical, “Fire in My Mouth,” (October 2019), an oratorio dealing with the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire; and London composer Carl Davis’ Kindertransport story, “The Last Train to Tomorrow” (November 2016). The Sarajevo Haggadah: Music of the Book (July 2020), was based on Geraldine Brooks’ “People of the Book.” And then there was the revamped 1918 Yiddish pandemic song, “You Poison Our Innards,” (September 2020). Recently, I have come across a new musical cantata, a powerful story about human trafficking so relevant today. The reimagined story is based on historical facts of the 1920s, regarding an organization that lured poor European girls and women, mainly from Poland, to work in wealthy homes, mainly in Buenos Aires,
but also other major cities pimps, thugs and prostitutes, With book, lyrics and music by of Argentina. Barbara Bellman and Emiliano Messiez, and was partially responsible Fearful of the pogroms, parthe cantata was previewed at a soldfor the breakup of the group, ents in dire economic means out performance at the Dona Gracia which had flourished in several in Eastern Europe would send Hadassah Chapter on Oct. 3, 2021 Argentinian cities. their daughters to Buenos Aires at the Union League of Philadelphia. The music in “Bordello” for a better future. Instead, The idea of sharing Liberman’s story reflects the Argentinian influthese girls became sex slaves with a larger audience is consistent with ence of composer Emiliano and, often, were beaten and Hadassah’s tradition of embracing Arlene Stolnitz Messiez. It includes tango forced into prostitution. They were, in “brave Jewish women who stick choreography of his country, combined effect, part of an organized crime group, with Ashkenzi/Klezmer motifs. You can their heads above the fray and try to the Zvi Migdal organization, which make difference.” hear “Caesar’s Tango” on YouTube as well functioned from the 1860s to 1939. A decade in the making, the cantata is as “The Day She Ran Away,” the lyrics for The story has been told before, and not fully completed, but will be presented which I find particularly poignant. not only in European countries. Recently, as a first-class production to a London “The Day She Ran Away” I read “The Third Daughter” by Talia “… yellow is the light of a summer day audience before its U.S. debut. Carner, which tells the story of girls from Arlene Stolnitz, founder of the Sarasota When a girl of 12 was sold to a man Odessa who were sold into slavery and Jewish Chorale, is a member of the Jewish four times her age forced to come to America. And the story Congregation of Venice. A retired educator Who locked her in a cage. continues, even today, in many Third She learned to survive and stay alive. from Rochester, New York, she has sung in World countries. choral groups for over 25 years and also sings Her dress was yellow, head to toe, as I have been particularly “struck” by in The Venice Chorale. Her interest in the she went screaming through the town the poetic words of the lyricist, Barbara preservation of Jewish music of all kinds has Begging for a place to hide, she fled Bellmann, who learned about the story into the countryside. led to this series of articles on Jewish Folk while working on her master’s degree. Music in the Diaspora. But that yellow dress betrayed her. In researching the subject, she uncovThe last time she wore yellow ered the story of Raquel Liberman, Was the day she ran away.” a 20th-century Polish immigrant who fled her home country to start a new life in Argentina. Raquel turned to prostitution as a way to support herself, and in the process, became aware of the sex slave business run by Migdal. She By Jerry Pyser, Director, Naples Klezmer Revival Band was a force in the investigation into the e are looking for a clarinet Please contact me for more information organization, which was run by Jewish at 954-830-3147 or pyser421@gmail.com. player and a bass guitar or bass player to join our Naples The Naples Klezmer Revival Band AN EGALITARIAN PROGRESSIVE CONGREGATION was founded in 1994 to bring “Jewish Klezmer Revival Band. MEMBER OF THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM A nonclassically trained musician Music and More!” to concerts, weddings, will feel at home joining our fun group. bar/bat mitzvahs and other events in South Florida. We have since expanded We are light-hearted and enjoy playing great music, ranging from our Klezmer our repertoire to include not only our Klezmer music, but everything from ’50s programs to light contemporary cocktail hour-type performances. standards and light jazz to music for all Candidate must be available once occasions, including our very popular weekly for 2-hour evening rehearsals and “Octoberfest” program! Consider us for your next cocktail be able to enjoy this for the music camaraderie, although there is often financial social hour or as a program for your compensation as well! community event.
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Ari Schneider, Pat Bracy, Jerry Pyser and Arnie Saslavsky
