Imagine an international hazzan who sang in Vienna and Hamburg, Harlem and the Met; who was compared to his friend the great Caruso and and yet was known for his menschlekhkeit; who reinvented the traditional cantorial canon but also participated in the “talkie” revolution that changed the cinema forever. This was the life of Yossele Rosenblatt (1882–1933), the star cantor of his age, whose 88th yahrzeit occurs this month.
This joyful setting of Psalm 113 keeps Rosenblatt’s incredible legacy alive. The virtuoso vocals and remarkable range of the voice that Cantor Schwartz shares with Rosenblatt make this a moving musical moment. May Yossele Rosenblatt’s memory be for a blessing. Amen. "