Debra Caplan: Yiddish Empire

Interview with Debra Caplan discussing her book Yiddish Empire: The Vilna Troupe, Jewish Theater, and the Art of Itinerancy The interview is conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis. Music: Excerpts from David Tamkin’s opera The Dybbuk, inspired by the play first and most famously performed by the Vilna Troupe. Track: Nigun of the 7 Circles. From the Milken Archive of American Jewish Music: Jewish Operas: Volume 1. Di Frosh and Feter Elye, performed by Noah Nachbush, the late actor who performed as a member of the Vilna Troupe in the world premiere of Der Dibek (The Dybbuk) in 1920, from the album Gems of Yiddish Poetry and Folklore: LP No. 330 Cantor Mordechai Herschhman: Vyo Vyo Ferdelach Forverts Kol news report by Jacob (Kobi) Weitzner, courtesy of the Yiddish Forward, on the web at yiddish.forward.com Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz Air Date: June 27 2018