The Best of Jewish Classical Music

A comprehensive guide to the best of Jewish classical music, from composers to recordings.

What is Jewish Classical Music?

Jewish classical music is a genre of classical music that is characterized by its use of Jewish musical elements. It emerged in the early 19th century and reached its zenith in the 20th century. Jewish classical music has been used in a variety of settings, including film, television, and theater.

A Brief History of Jewish Classical Music

Jewish classical music is a genre of classical music that is characterized by its use of Jewish themes, tunes, or texts. It often includes elements from other Jewish musical traditions such as klezmer. Jewish classical music began to take shape in the 17th and 18th centuries, when Jewish composers began to draw upon their heritage for their compositions. Many of these composers were born in Central and Eastern Europe, where they were exposed to both traditional Jewish music and the wider world of Western classical music. As they began to assimilate into Western culture, they began to fuse these two musical traditions together in their own work.

Some of the most famous Jewish classical composers include Felix Mendelssohn, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Jacques Offenbach, and Otto Klemperer. Mendelssohn was one of the first Jewish composers to achieve mainstream success in the world of classical music. His oratorio Elijah was one of the most popular pieces of religious music in the 19th century, and his Violin Concerto in E Minor remains one of the most popular works in the repertoire today. Meyerbeer was a highly successful opera composer whose works such as Les Huguenots and Le prophète helped to established grand opera as a new genre. Offenbach was a French composer who achieved great popularity with his light operas such as Orpheus in the Underworld and The Tales of Hoffmann. Klemperer was a German conductor who is best known for his interpretations of the works of Mahler and Beethoven.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Jewish classical music, as composers have begun to explore their heritage in new ways. Many contemporaryJewish composers are using traditional Klezmer techniques to create new works that blend Klezmer with other genres such as jazz or rock. This new breed of Jewish classical composer is helping to keep this rich musical tradition alive and thriving in the 21st century.

The Best of Jewish Classical Music

There is a long and rich tradition of Jewish classical music, stretching back centuries. Today, there are many wonderful composers and performers keeping this tradition alive. Here are some of the best Jewish classical musicians working today.

The Future of Jewish Classical Music

Last year, the eminent classical music critic Harold Schonberg wrote an article in The New York Times proclaiming that Jewish composers had finally come of age. He pointed to the growing number of Jewish works being performed by major orchestras and the increased number of Jews holding prominent positions in the music world as evidence of this new reality.

“There is no longer any question,” he wrote, “that Jewish composers are an integral and important part of our musical life.”

This new era in Jewish classical music has been long overdue. For centuries, Jews have been active participants in the Western musical tradition, yet their contributions have often been overshadowed or ignored. But with the rise of Jewish composers like Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland, that is starting to change.

Jewish classical music has come a long way in the last century, and it shows no signs of slowing down. As more and more Jewish composers gain recognition, we can only imagine what future masterpieces they will create.