Commemorating 80 Years Auschwitz Liberation: Concert by Shira Karmon and Alexander Vounelakos
Image: Sebastian Kerssenbrock
JANUARY 29 | 6:30 PM
TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN DUE COURSE
Join us for a concert with Austrian-based artists Shira Karmon and Alexander Vounelakos.
About the Concert
Shira Karmon and Alexander Vounelakos are both classical and Jazz artists. With “Shira”, Hebrew for song or poetry – they offer a variety of songs from Shira’s classical Gramola music Albums: „Spirit of Hope“, and „Little Cakewalk“ commemorating 80 years to the liberation of Auschwitz with songs by Viktor Ullmann and Szymon Laks who were prisoners in this concentration camp. The music styles in this recital take us on a journey through classical, romantic, Viennese songs, and jazzy flair where the artists interpret pieces by Beethoven, Bernstein, Weill, Leopoldi and Hiller a.o. Thus, Ullmann and Laks are liberated from the title: „Music from Auschwitz“. The concert will end with the lighter side of Jewish hits, leaving the audience with a spirit of hope!
About the Artists
Shira Karmon: Soprano Shira Karmon was born in Israel and was seen at a variety of Opera and Concert houses in Europe. She performed at the MuTh and at the Agrana Studio of the Viennese state Opera, the Brucknerhaus Linz and the List-Halle Graz a.o. Exploring different styles of music she was invited as guest artist in Festivals such as “Wien Modern” or the Singera festival in Warsaw to mention a few. In this season she is featured as solo artist with the Jerusalem and Haifa Symphony Orchestras. Karmon’s repertory also features special programs with Paul Gulda at the “Jewish Culture Vienna Festival”. Karmon and Gulda created the theme recital “Pieces of Hope, Hopes for Peace” for a Tournée Recital in Jerusalem and Akko, with this program they were invited to the “Pfinxt’n Festival” in Heidenreichstein, the chamber music Festival in Graz, Kultursommer in Carinthia a.o. Image Credits: Georg Buxhofer
Alexander Vounelakos: “Born in Vienna and musically influenced by his surroundings, he began to be interested in the piano at the age of 6, where he quickly formed an intensive friendship. After several years of studying classical music, he was also very inspired by other genres, especially jazz and flamenco, which he studied intensively at the same time. At the age of 14, he became a pianist at the Lower Austria Youth Jazz Orchestra and founded various jazz bands. At the age of 17, he passed the entrance exam at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (MDW), for both classical and jazz piano, and now works as a soloist at classical concerts, but is also part of various formations in different genres. At the age of 19, he founded his own jazz trio, in which he brought his own compositions and new interpretations of jazz standards to listeners, was keyboardist in the Zawinul All-Star Big Band and soloist with the Tulln Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Pressbaum City Orchestra . In 2023 he began studying classical piano at the Joseph Haydn Conservatory.” Image Credits: Sebastian Philipp