Published: 17 January 2017
Last updated: 4 March 2024
“I could either cry for the rest of my life or laugh – I chose to laugh!” - Masha Kleinzinger
This powerful motto is one of Masha’s many legacies: others are her great creations - her family; a love of music and dance passed through the generations, and a fierce and enduring sense of humour.
Sarit’s beloved late grandmother, Masha Kleinzinger was the only survivor of a vast family, the rest of whom perished during the Sho’ah. Like many others after liberation, she had nowhere to go, no place to call home and no family to keep her safe – she was a refugee.
Against all odds, Masha went on to create her own family and found her own safe haven in Nazareth. To her family, Masha was a hero, a revered matriarch, a loving mother and grandmother and a force to be reckoned with.
She chose to be a survivor, not a victim – that is her legacy!
More than five years in the making, Safe Haven is the debut album of Masha’s Legacy and will be launched on 25 January 2017 at iconic Venue 505 in Surry Hills. The album features original compositions and original arrangements of traditional pieces, drawing on the wide array of skills and experience of the group’s performers. These include Jazz, Arabic, Turkish, Klezmer, Cuban, Brazilian, European Classical, Flamenco and European folk styles.
Featured original arrangements include Las Estreyas (The Stars) and Shir LaShalom (Song for Peace), performed in Ladino and Hebrew respectively by New York based vocalist Miriam Waks, and a stunning presentation of the lullaby Yalla Tnam Rima, performed in Arabic by Sydney Andalus Arabic choir director Ghada Elmowy-Daher.
The title track, Safe Haven takes the listener on the journey of a refugee from a homeland in chaos, through the voyage, towards the uncertain future with an ever-changing destination. Masha’s Theme (Everybody Loves Hommus) is a Klezmer-tinged tribute to the delicious dip we all love so much, while The Travellers Companion is a joyous tribute to the masters who paved the way for the group. The necessity of cohesive diversity is explored in Dynamic Tension, while In the Mountain’s Shadow the transience of deep and abiding love is revealed with breathtaking beauty.
The musicians:
Stuart Vandegraaff – Music Director, compositions & arrangements, saxophones, clarinet, Arabic nays
Christopher Soulos – Co-producer, electric bass, FX
Mahammd Lelo – Q’nun
Adem Yilmaz – percussion
Nick Southcott – keyboards
Adnaan Barake – ‘oud
James Tawasros – percussion
Miriam Waks – vocal
Ghada Elmowy- Daher
The dancers:
Jrisi Jusakos
Kelly “Kurvy” Guenther
For more information about Masha’s Legacy and the album launch, visit www.facebook.com/mashas.legacy.
Tickets can be purchased online at http://venue505.com or at the door
Video footage is available at https://youtu.be/FF_c8QqieyU and visit the homepage at www.svmusic.com.au (follow the link to Masha's Legacy) for more info, audio and images.
This The Jewish Independent article may be republished if acknowledged thus: ‘Reprinted with permission from www.thejewishindependent.com.au ’
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