Organ Sounds is our popular concert series started by our own former Music Director Natasha Ulyanovsky. The concert series highlights our historic 1934 Austin organ and often features special guest soloists. The concert series is supported by CBI congregants; organ music lovers who helped to completely restore our historic organ and wish to continue to keep this majestic instrument sound alive. All concerts are held at Congregation Beth Israel (701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford). Concerts are free, open to the public and both in person and livestreamed. A suggested donation of $20 is welcome at the concert, or please use our online system www.cbict.org/support to support these musical programs.
Friday, May 2 at 6:30pm
Featuring organist Ronald Ebrecht (pictured)
A wonderful regular guest performer at CBI who enjoys returning to see the audience and play our magnificent organ.
Program
Choral #1, in E Major
César Franck, 1822-1890
Three Dances from Latin America
Adios Nonino
Astor Piazzolla, 1921-1992
arranged for organ by Christian Almada
Samba Felicidad
Shirley Scott, 1934-2002
Garôto, Tango
Ernesto Nazareth, 1863-1934
arranged for organ by Ronald Ebrecht
Ronald Ebrecht, Wesleyan University Organist, has appeared to critical acclaim for three decades over a territory that spans four continents. He has given master classes and lectures in world-famous conservatories such as Vienna, Sydney, Beijing and across the U.S. He is particularly known for his interpretations of the first editions of Maurice Duruflé.
Friday, March 21 at 6:30pm
Featuring organist Mary Pan (pictured)
Program:
Brahms: Herzlich tut mich verlangen
Brahms: Prelude and Fugue in a minor
Brahms: Herzlich tut mich erfreuen
Mendelssohn: Sonata No. 5 in D Major
Whitlock: Scherzo
Bairstow: Evening Song
2024 Organ Sounds Concerts
“Home for the Holidays”
Friday, December 20 at 6:30pm
Featuring Natasha Ulyanovsky (organ) & Alexander Kollias (clarinet)
CLICK HERE to view the concert
Friday, November 15, 2024
“Romantic Recollections”
Featuring Zhanna Alkhazova, Soprano (pictured, Stephen Dillon Photography)
Friday, September 20, 2024 at 6:30pm
Featuring Michelle Horsley
CLICK HERE to view the concert
Organ Sounds Concerts, 2023-2024 Season Celebrating the 90th Anniversary of Our Austin Organ:
Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and online for an incredible concert season! We hosted special musical guests at all of our eight wonderful concerts to mark this momentous anniversary! Links to the concerts are listed below. A special thank you to the sponsors this season: Arnold Chase, Jim & Dianne Friedman, Gale & Bern Kosto, Natasha Ulyanovsky and the Greater Hartford Guild of American Organists. A huge thank you to Natasha Ulyanovsky, CBI’s organist, for producing these amazing concerts.
Built by Austin Organ Company in 1934 as its Opus 1853, the four manual, three thousand pipes organ was especially crafted to match the acoustics of the magnificent Beth Israel sanctuary. Our Austin organ was the last 4 manual instruments built by the original Austin company. In 2004 representatives of the American Historical Society presented to CBI its Historical Organ Citation plaque, declaring the CBI organ to be of significant historical importance.
“La Primavera” with Liudmila Matsyura (Madrid, Spain), Organist & Composer
May 5, 2024
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO CONCERT
Alla Borzova, Organist & Composer
April 19, 2024
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO CONCERT
“Mostly Mozart” with Kathleen Callahan-Hardman, Soprano & Natasha Ulyanovsky, Organ
February 16, 2024
“Winter Organ Concert” with Scott Lamlein, Organ
January 19, 2024
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE CONCERT
“Classics for Clarinet & Organ” with Alexander Kollias, Clarinet & Natasha Ulyanovsky, Organ
December 15, 2023
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE CONCERT
Monika Krajewska, Soprano, Patrick Buckley, Baritone, Natasha Ulyanovsky, Organ
Friday, November 17, 2023
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE CONCERT
Ronald Ebrecht, Organist
October 20, 2023
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE CONCERT
Alexander Straus-Fausto, Organist
September 29, 2023
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE CONCERT
Organ Sounds Concerts 2022-2023 Season:
Members participate in Adult Choir, our Shiranote youth choir, our multi-generational Klezmer Band, our annual Purim Shpiel, and much more. Our Music Committee organizes performances of exciting guest artists. Recent concerts include the American Baroque Orchestra in a performance of Sephardic music from 18th-century Amsterdam, and musicians from Nava Tehilah, a contemporary Israeli spiritual community noted for creating groundbreaking worship music.
Our sanctuary includes a historic Austin Organ with 3,000 pipes, 93 stops, and two expression engines, enabling a wide spectrum of sound colors. You can hear the organ at traditional High Holy Day services, festival services, and in our Organ Sounds concert series.
Natasha Ulyanovsky
Congregation Beth Israel is delighted to present this series of concerts of inspiring and uplifting music to listen to in your home.
December 7
Haneirot Halalu: A Happy Chanukah Musical Compilation
featuring the a cappella sounds of Six13, our own Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky with flutist Gonzalo Cortes and the singing group the Maccabeats, performing the music of George Frideric Handel, Félix-Alexandre Guilmant, Bonia Shur, and more.
Click HERE to listen.
November 2
Of Thee I Sing
with the music of Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein and Harold Arlen as performed by performers and CBI Music Director Natasha Ulyanovsky and Monika Krajewska (pictured), and nationally-known singers Sarah Vaughn and Cynthia Erivo.
Click HERE to listen.
October 19
Broadway Baby
featuring Lauren Persky and CBI Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky.
Click HERE to listen.
September 14
Prepare for the Shofar Sound with the Music of Louis Lewandowski (1821-1894)
showcasing the talents of CBI Music Director Natasha Ulyanovsky on the synagogue’s historic 1934 Austin organ.
Click HERE to listen.
September 1
Jewish Jazz
Enjoy our newest concert showcasing clarinet player extraordinaire Carolyn Bernstein (with piano by CBI Music Director Natasha Ulyanovsky). The concert includes popular tunes by Benny Goodman, Kurt Weill, and Abraham Ellstein.
Click HERE to listen.
August 17, 2020
My Favorite Things
Our concert series continues with our own dedicated Shiranote and adult choir member Molly Singer, with piano by CBI Music Director Natasha Ulyanovsky. The concert includes popular tunes by Harold Arlen, Nat King Cole, Antonio Carlos Jobim and others.
Molly has starred in CBI’s Purim Shpiels and has performed at the West Hartford Summer Arts Festival.
Click HERE to listen.
August 3, 2020
Music for Organ & Strings
featuring Peter Dzialo on cello and our own Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky on organ.
Enjoy the concert.
July 20, 2020
The Music of Salamone Rossi
outstanding Jewish violinist, singer and composer of the late Renaissance/Early Baroque Era.
Click HERE to listen.
July 3, 2020
Being Alive
featuring singer Patrick Buckley and Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky. The two are performing the works of Stephen Sondheim, Harold Arlen, Stephen Schwarz and more.
Click HERE to listen.
June 7, 2020
Violin Moods
featuring Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky accompanying Dan Monyak on the piano, playing works by A. Piazzolla, J. Massenet, and V. Monti
Click HERE to listen.
May 25, 2020
Yiddish Art Songs
featuring Monika Krajewska and Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky
Click HERE to listen.
May 11, 2020
Yiddish Theater and Broadway Tunes
featuring Cantor Stephanie Kupfer and Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky
Click HERE to listen.
April 27, 2020
Somewhere
featuring Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky on piano and Max Schwimmer on saxophone
Click HERE to listen.
