Di Yidishe Neshome

A Telepathic Dialogue of Klezmer Virtuosos
 

The duo Di Yiddishe Neshome (Jewish Soul) represents the "crème de la crème" of the international Yiddish music scene. Violinist Mark Kovnatskiy and pianist/accordionist Alan Bern share a musical connection that is unparalleled worldwide—an intuitive, almost telepathic ability to anticipate and respond to each other’s every nuance in real-time.

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Both musicians entered klezmer music from the world of classical music. This rigorous foundation allows them to treat the Yiddish tradition with exquisite care while seamlessly integrating the sophistication of classical music. Their sound is further enriched by deep-rooted influences from Jazz, Moldovan, Greek, and Arabic traditions—a result of their lifelong study of the cultures where Jewish musicians historically lived and thrived.

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The duo has several concert programs. Their primary repertoire focuses on traditional klezmer melodies and their own acclaimed original compositions. Additionally, they have a specialized program featuring works by composers of the "New Jewish School" (Saint-Petersburg, early XX century), such as Joel Engel and Josef Achron.

 

As elite figures of the global klezmer scene, they have performed and taught across the USA, Canada, Europe, the former USSR, and Japan.

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Pianist/accordionist Dr. Alan Bern has been a pioneer in the international revival of Yiddish music for 40 years. He played a.o. with Itzhak Perlman and Brave Old World and in 1999 founded Yiddish Summer Weimar, the most important summer institute and festival for Yiddish music worldwide. 

 

His colleague, one of the world's leading klezmer violinists, as well as a composer and teacher of Yiddish dance, Mark Kovnatskiy, is at the head of a generation that has saved the sensitive playing style of the old klezmorim for the present and developed it further. He is widely regarded as one of the world's premier klezmer violinists. His standing at the pinnacle of the genre is consistently reaffirmed by his regular collaborations and performances alongside the most prominent figures in international Yiddish music.