Renowned violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman pursued this collaboration with Israeli-born Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot. The 10 songs on Eternal Echoes: Songs and Dances for the Soul (Sony Masterworks) come mainly from the Jewish liturgy, with some folk and klezmer melodies in the mix. Perlman has said that his idea “was to do ‘Jewish comfort music’ — everything that I recognize from my childhood is in this program.” For Helfgot’s part, the recording was “the fulfillment of a dream. When I was a child growing up I always knew about Itzhak Perlman, so of course I said yes, right away! I am very happy that this dream became real.” Hankus Netsky, whom many know as the director of the Klezmer Conservatory Band, arranged the music and played the piano parts. For Jewish music lovers, this deftly played, sweet, evocative music is a dream come true. — M.S.
(American Jewish World, 11.23.12)
