Israel's Salvation by Esther - Cristiano Giuseppe Lidarti

In 1774, the Portuguese Synagogue of Amsterdam commissioned composer Cristiano Giuseppe Lidarti to create a new setting of an oratorio Esther. The Hebrew libretto, translated by Rabbi Jacob Raphael Saraval from Handel’s original English libretto, was based on a French drama by Jean Racine - the same literary source that inspired Handel’s own oratorio. Long thought to be lost, Lidarti’s manuscript was rediscovered in 1998 at Cambridge University. The original Hebrew libretto, titled Israel’s Salvation by Esther, is preserved today in Amsterdam’s Ets Haim Library. This performance marks a rare and meaningful revival of a remarkable piece of Jewish musical heritage.

This special performance is in honor of the 350th anniversary of the Portuguese Synagogue, honoring a musical gem from its own rich history.

This concert is dedicated in honor of Mitchell R. Julis and Sander R. Gerber, in recognition of their exceptional contributions to Jewish life across Europe. The concert is also dedicated to the lifelong work of Prof. Israel Adler, whose scholarship led to the rediscovery and publication of this long-lost masterpiece. This concert has been made possible in part through the generous support of the Maror Foundation.

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