GENERATIONS UNITED 2 CONCERT TO PRESENT FOURTEEN MIHSKAN TORAH PERFORMERS ON JUNE 16

Mishkan Torah Synagogue at 10 Ridge Road in Greenbelt, Maryland is preparing a very special Father’s Day present, the gala Generations United 2 Concert, which will take place on Father’s Day, June 16, 2013 at two o’clock. The concert will feature performances by fourteen Mishkan Torah classically trained vocalists and instrumentalists. The  concert follows the sensational Generations United Concert presented Mother’s Day in 2012. The Mishkan Torah artists this year will again be accompanied by wellknown local pianist and collaborative artist Andrew Kraus, who has just released his first CD.

The Mishkan Torah artists expected to participate this year include Carlos Castillo; David Charney; Yoni Charry; Yael Fischman; Gordon Fung; Aaron Goldstein; Ben Greenfield; Phil Greenfield; Adam Juran ; Don Juran; Rebecca Lemus; Jeffrey Rosen; Joshua Rosen; and Rachel White. The performers range in age from   teen-age and early twenties to over seventy. The show will include five new faces from last year’s smash hit concert.

The event will include four sets of intergenerational performers. Gordon Fung and Aaron Goldstein will present a grandfather-grandson French horn duet. They will present the world premiere of “Generations Medley” by Kay Meade, based on well-known Jewish themes. In addition, there will be three sets of fathers and sons in the program: Adam and Don Juran; Ben and Phil Greenfield; and Joshua and Jeffrey Rosen. To complete the family picture, there will be two husband and wife duos; Yael Fischman and Yoni Charry and also Rachel White Greenfield and Ben Greenfield.

The scope of the program for this year’s concert will be expanded beyond that of last year’s big hit show, going beyond only classical fare.. The concert will commence with mezzo -soprano Cantor Yael Fischman singing a cantorial,  “Yedid Nefish,” by Ben Schaechter. Veteran Mishkan Torah pianist David Charney will then play Polonaise #4 in C Minor and Polonaise #6 in A Flat (heroic) by the famed nineteenth century Polish composer and pianist Frederic Chopin. Operatic tenor Adam Juran will sing two standards of the Italian operatic repertory, “E lucevan le stelle” from Giacomo Puccini’s melodrama “Tosca” and “Ah si ben mio” from Giuseppe Verdi’s “Il Trovatore.” Clarinetist Rebecca Lemus will perform Three Preludes by the beloved Jewish-American composer George Gershwin. Mishkan Torah tenor favorite Ben Greenfield will perform most probably “Total Eclipse” from “Samson,” by George Frederic Handel. The first half of the program will conclude with French Hornist Joshua Rosen playing the Concert Rondo by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The second half of the program will begin with a world premiere, the aptly-named “Generations Medley” by Kay Meade. The work is a duet for French horns, and will be played by the grandfathergrandson team of Gordon Fung and Aaron Goldstein. The next performer will be another long-time Mishkan Torah favorite, bass-baritone Don Juran. Don will be singing three songs from a song cycle he composed, “Beyond the Mirror,” which is a setting of poems by Don’s son Joshua. Don will then change moods to perform the sardonic “Madeira M’Dear” by Michael Flanders and Donald Swan. Tenor Yoni Charry will sing two additional songs by Flanders and Swan, “The Gasman Cometh” and “The Elephant” to add to the comedic element. Jeffrey Rosen will honor his 39th anniversary by singing "Aniversary Song” by Al Jolson. Cantor Phil Greenfield will also perform a number to be announced. The program set forth above is subject to change both in selections and in order of performance.

The concert will conclude with something different and exciting, a set of selections from the Broadway and movie smash hit “Les Miserables.” Yael Fischman will commence the proceedings by singing the doomed Fantine’s showstopper “I Dreamed a Dream.” Yael will then change character completely, and join her husband Yoni Charry to portray the villainous Thernardiers and do “Master of the House.” Joshua Rosen will then play Javert’s big solo “Stars” in Joshua’s own original arrangement for French horn. Rachel White Greenfield will then portray another pathetic doomed figure, Eponine, and sing “On My Own.” Ben Greenfield will sing another of the show’s absolute show stoppers, the hero Jean Valjean’s poignant “Bring Him Home.” Finally, Carlos Castillo as Marius will perform “Empty Chairs and Empty Tables.” In true Mishkan Torah style, there may well be a surprise or two along the way.

The concert is the perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day. The two o’clock starting hour will allow people to attend Father’s Day brunches or dinners, and still make the concert.   The concert promises to be a  celebratory event, which will equal or surpass last year’s unforgettable Mother’s Day Concert. Mishkan Torah has a dazzling array of trained and talented performers who are getting ready to take the stage on June 16, Tickets for this extraordinary display of talent are only $18 each if ordered in advance, or $20 at the door. Tickets may be ordered by calling the Mishkan Torah office (301-474-4423) or by using the online form on the synagogue's website. 

You will not want to miss this event. Come see, hear, and support the extraordinary Mishkan Torah performers, and show Dad a great time for his special day. See you on June 16!