In 2003, a cantorial concert recorded in Amsterdam’s 17th-century Portuguese Synagogue for PBS made history as one of the most popular programs of Jewish music ever presented on American television.
Now, fourteen years later, three accomplished cantors from a new generation have been asked to honor the original production and its legendary artists by performing a new concert for PBS to be recorded in the same legendary Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam.
The New York Cantors, all rising-stars in the American Jewish music scene, are: Brooklyn-born Yaakov (Yanks) Lemmer, Head Cantor of the Lincoln Center Synagogue in New York City; Azi Schwartz, a native of Israel and Senior Cantor of New York’s Park Avenue Synagogue; and Netanel Hershtik also Israeli-born, son of cantor Naftali Hershtik, and Cantor at the Hamptons Synagogue, Westhampton Beach, New York.
As in the original PBS concert which featured cantor Naftali Herstik, cantor Benzion Miller and cantor Alberto Mizrachi, the cantors will be accompanied by orchestra and choir in a program of beloved religious and secular Jewish songs.
Daniel Hart, Executive Producer of the original project is Producer of The New York Cantors and Maestro Jules Van Hessen, conductor of the original concert, is Musical Director and Conductor. Arrangements are being written by Bob Zimmerman, Holland’s revered composer and arranger of music for film and television. Eduard Huis in’t Veld joins the project as Director and Jeroen Jans is Lighting Director.