THEODORE BIKEL Artist-in-Residence
Sasha Lurje
From the heart of Riga, Latvia, to the cultural tapestry of Berlin, Sasha Lurje has made her mark as one of the world’s most premier Yiddish singers. Delving deep into traditional Yiddish styles, she breathes life into the ancient melodies while also spearheading contemporary projects.
Whether it’s the rock beats of forshpil (forshpil.com), haunting melodies of the Semer Ensemble or innovative blend in projects like Black Rooster Sings: a revue of Latvian Jewish and Latvian music collected by Emilis Melngalis, and Goyfriend: a blend of Jewish and non-Jewish music about the friendly and not-so-friendly neighbors, Sasha’s voice and passion are unmistakable.
Her collaborations stretch from the esteemed Yale University Fortunoff Archive with Songs from Testimonies to intercultural endeavours with Helsinki Yiddish Cabaret, exploring the life of not-so-well-know Nordic Jewish Community, to theatrical performances with Michael Wex’s Last Night in Cabaret Yitesh and Josh Waletzky’s Pleytem Tsuzamen.
An active pillar of the Berlin klezmer community, Sasha doesn’t just sing; she creates experiences, be it at festivals like Yiddish Summer Weimar, where she is a regular or Shtetl Berlin and Seattle Yiddish Fest – Festivals she organizes.
This initiative is a poignant tribute to a great iconic artist, who made profound contributions to the arts and the Jewish community. This honour will be bestowed upon local and international artists whose work reflects Theodore Bikel’s values and career, including his commitment to the Jewish community, Israel, the Yiddish language, multilingualism, intercultural peace, and folk music. The position is open to artists and leaders in various disciplines (music, theatre, film, literature, etc.). It simultaneously honours the past and celebrates the present, while providing a prestigious opportunity for contemporary and emerging artists. Previous honourees include Daniel Kahn (2016) and Frank London (2018).
