By request: The Hebrew prayers for Pope Francis

By request: The Hebrew prayers for Pope Francis

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norman lebrecht

September 27, 2015

Various readers have asked to hear hazan (cantor) Ari Schwartz who sang the memorial prayer for the fallen of 9/11 before Pope Francis at Ground Zero. Here’s the video:

ari schwartz

Comments

  • Itsjtime says:
    September 27, 2015 at 2:08 pm

    Thank you, Norman.

    Reply
  • herrera says:
    September 27, 2015 at 3:30 pm

    Azi, not Ari

    http://www.azischwartz.com/en/biography.html

    Reply
  • Robert Hairgrove says:
    September 27, 2015 at 6:58 pm

    Absolutely ravishing voice! Thank you, Norman, for posting this. He reminds me a great deal of the unforgettable Joseph Schmidt, both in his effortless high register as well as in his impeccable intonation. Even his face bears a certain resemblance — although he seems to be a little taller than Schmidt, who was only about 5’1 (1.5 meters).

    Todah rabah!

    Reply
    • Robert Hairgrove says:
      September 27, 2015 at 7:03 pm

      Well, probably a lot taller, if he did military service. 🙂

      Reply
      • M2N2K says:
        September 28, 2015 at 2:22 am

        Since he served “as a soloist in the Israeli Defense Forces Rabbinical Troupe”, his height was probably not an issue. But he certainly looks taller than Joseph Schmidt was. In any case, he has a very pleasant voice with sensitive musicality and perfect intonation.

        Reply
  • Mark says:
    September 28, 2015 at 4:33 am

    A wonderful performance ! And it’s so touching that a bishop (at the end of the video) is singing along (in Hebrew !)

    Reply
  • Curlew Song says:
    September 28, 2015 at 12:49 pm

    Simply wonderful. Thank you.

    Reply
  • Jo Hammond says:
    September 28, 2015 at 6:23 pm

    It doesn’t matter that I don’t understand the words. The music says it all!
    (From an admirer of Cantor Gershon Sirota.)

    Reply

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