Bernstein’s ‘Kaddish’ Symphony No. 3 at Carnegie Hall
Stren Auditorium / Perelman Stage
Carnegie Hall
881 7th Ave
New York, NY, 10019
January 29, 2025 | 8:00 pm
On January 29, 2025, Carnegie Hall will present a special concert to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz: Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony No. 3 “Kaddish” with the libretto, written at the composer’s request, by Samuel Pisar.
It will be narrated by Pisar’s wife, Judith, and their youngest daughter, Leah, under the baton of James Conlon, with the Orchestra of St Lukes.
Samuel Pisar, a survivor of Auschwitz, Dachau, and Majdanek, remained an outspoken defender of human rights throughout his life. He narrated his libretto, to great critical acclaim, with leading world orchestras, from its creation in 2003 with the Chicago Symphony. Since his death in 2015, Judith and Leah are the only authorized narrators of this text, which they have performed in some of the world’s premier concert halls — in Washington, Paris, Milan, Tokyo, Toulouse, Sevilla, and most recently, in Australia.
Bernstein’s thunderous music and Pisar’s eloquent and ecumenical message of hope are a powerful plea to people of all faiths in favor of vigilance and human coexistence in these chaotic and uncertain times.
Conductor : James Conlon
Soprano : Diane Newman
Narrators : Judith Pisar and Leah Pisar
Chorus Master : James Bagwell
Orchestra : Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Choruses : Bard Festival Chorus and Brooklyn Youth Chorus