by Mike Telin

“When we leave conservatory, our available time to do things that are out of the routine of everyday life dwindles considerably,” pianist and Yellow Barn artistic director Seth Knopp pointed out during a telephone conversation.  “Whether you’re a touring musician or piecing together a living, it’s hard to find time to dedicate yourself to one project. Our residencies are a chance for musicians to immerse themselves in their work.”

One example of a project created during a Yellow Barn residency is Merima Ključo’s “The Sarajevo Haggadah: Music of the Book,” which will be presented on Wednesday, October 28 at 7:30 as part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Performing Arts Series. This multimedia work for accordion, piano, and video traces the story of a precious Jewish prayer book’s journey from medieval Spain to 20th-century Bosnia. The performance will feature Merima Ključo on the accordion and pianist Seth Knopp. Video for the presentation is the creation of Bart Woodstrup. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks, who wrote about the Haggadah in her historical novel People of the Book, will introduce the program. [Read more…]