East European Holiday Music - Concert in San Francisco, CA

Lowiczanie Polish Folk Ensemble presents the 10th annual Slavic Choral Christmas Concert, a rich tapestry of seasonal carols and winter songs of East-Central Europe and the Balkans, featuring traditionally costumed Community artists from the Polish and Bulgarian, Croatian, Hungarian, Jewish, Moldovan, and Ukrainian Bay Area populations.

The Slavic Choral Christmas Concert presents powerful to the lighted-hearted performances based on the rich fabric of East and Central-European and Balkan folk and sacred holiday music. The repertoire encompasses a multitude of mesmerizing styles ranging from simple folk themes (“pastorals”) to close-harmonized sacred carols – all presented by Community Artists. The annual joyful Concert finale features over 60 artists onstage who lead a rousing audience sing-a-long of both European and American carols. The event’s Central European holiday marketplace atmosphere is enhanced by seating under hand-hewn shingle “huts”, the spicy aromas of mulled cider & wine – one complimentary glass per ticket holder – and the opportunity to purchase hand-crafted artisan gifts.

The artists: Lowiczanie Polish Carolers, directed by Jola Jankowska, together with Lowiczanie Folk Kapela musicians are joined by: the Ukrainian Bay Area Carolers, Halyna Lorczak, director; Bulgarian Koledari Group,

Tanya Kostova, director; Hungarian Folk Singing Circle, Zina von Bozzay, director; Members of Danubius East European Folk Band presenting a Jewish-Hungarian Chanukah and winter repertoire. Soprano Dalyte Kodzis offers Polish carols in the classical tradition, and Lilla Serlegi, who accompanies herself on the ancient, “old” Tamburitza, or “samica,”  sings Croatian carols.

The Christmas traditions of Moldova will be presented instrumentally by famed Moldovan artists, Nicolai Prisikar, formerly Orchestra Director for the National Academic Folklore Ensemble, “Joc,” (on accordion) and Roman Titcu, formerly Music Director for the internationally-renowned Polish gypsy orchestra, “Roma,” (on cimbalom), together with local musician Susan Worland, a member of the Santa Cruz Symphony, on violin.

The  two-hour program is visually beautiful – highlighted by traditional ethnic dress of the participating Slavic communities – and enriched by the virtuoso musical talents on display:  Lowiczanie’s folk orchestra (“Kapela” ) features Susan Worland on violin, Nicolai Prisicar on accordion and Roman Titcu, on cimbalom and Barbara Deutsch on clarinet. Other musical surprises feature recognized artists from Bulgaria and Croatia.

The Slavic Christmas Concert is sponsored by Lowiczanie Polish Folk Ensemble of San Francisco, a not-for-profit performing arts organization formed in 1975, and the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life and Culture, and POLAM Federal Credit Union. The mission of Lowiczanie is to entertain and educate audiences through presentations of traditional Polish folk and gentry’s music, song and dance, and annual public workshops in Polish folk crafts and dance.  www.polishfolk.org. 

Advance tickets available through Brown Paper Tickets  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/519381, or at the SF Seakor Polish Deli, 5957 Geary Blvd., POLAM Federal Credit Union (San Francisco on Geary Blvd., and Concord on Oak Grove Rd.)

For more information, call: 510-575-7514 or (Polish language) 916-716-0913.