Strathmore.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Michael Fila
(301) 581-5194
mfila@strathmore.org
Strathmore Presents
Yasmin Levy
with Special Guest Omar Faruk Tekbilek
Israeli singer shares enticing sounds of Judeo-Spanish Ladino at Valentine’s Day concert
NORTH BETHESDA, MD – Hearts will be aflutter not only from bouquets of roses and
surprise gifts this Valentine’s Day, but also from the sensuous and seductive singing of Israel’s Yasmin Levy, fusing the Judeo-Spanish language of Ladino with flamenco influences on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. in the Music Center at Strathmore. Every bit as striking as her arresting vocals, the smoky-eyed Levy delivers impassioned songs in a beguiling Sephardic sound, creating “an emotional impact you believe in” (The Sun, United Kingdom). She is joined by prodigious Turkish flautist Omar Faruk Tekbilek. All seats in the concert hall for this performance are $38. This concert is presented in association with the Washington DCJCC. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (301) 581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org. Levy’s musical style is greatly influenced by her father, Isaac Levy, a composer and pioneer researcher into the history of Ladino music and Judeo-Spanish culture. Ladino is a Romance language derived from Old Spanish, influenced heavily by Hebrew and Aramaic, as well as Arabic, Turkish and Greek. Levy reinterprets medieval Ladino song by incorporating modern influences such as Andalusian Flamenco, Mediterranean and Persian into her music, which expresses longing, heartache, fiery passion and intense desire. Levy has been heralded as “one of the finest singers in the Middle East, she deserves global recognition” (The Guardian, United Kingdom) and as “emerging as a major figure on the world music scene” (Telegraph, United Kingdom). Her most recent album, Sentir, was released in 2010 to great critical acclaim from such outlets as The New York Times, USA Today and The Boston Globe. Born in Adana, Turkey, Omar Faruk Tekbilek is a foremost exponent for the country’s aural style, and is known for his performances with the ney, a bamboo flute, in a Sufi style. He has mastered a variety of old-world instruments, including the ney, zurna (double-reed oboe like instrument with buzzing tone), the baglama (long-necked lute) and the oud (the classic lute). His music was permanently altered upon meeting the Mevlevi Dervishes, the ancient Sufi order of Turkey, who profoundly influence Tekbilek with their mysticism and fusion of sound and spirit. Tekbilek has relayed this distinctive sound through numerous solo albums, and has also collaborated with guitarison three albums, Suleyman the Magnificent, Firedance and Beyond the Sky, and also workeon Fata Morgana. About Strathmore
Strathmore is an established arts presenter and cultural destination that nurtures art, artists and community through creative and diverse programming of the highest quality, and is home to the Music Center at Strathmore, a 1,976-seat concert hall and education complex. The Music Center at Strathmore is located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane in North Bethesda, MD, one half-mile north of the Capital Beltway and immediately adjacent to the Grosvenor-Strathmore station on Metro’s Red Line. For those attending a ticketed performance at the Music Center at Strathmore, parking in the Metro garage is complimentary with your ticket. Strathmore is supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive. An agency of the Department of Business & Economic Development, MSAC provides financial support and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, units of government, colleges and universities for arts activities. Strathmore is also supported in part by the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County.
Strathmore Presents
Yasmin Levy with Special Guest Omar Faruk Tekbilek
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
8 p.m.
Tickets: $38 (Stars Price $34.20)
Music Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda, MD 20852
For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit www.strathmore.org or call (301) 581-
5100.

Source: http://www.strathmore.org/media/pdf/pressreleases/12142011_41255746.pdf