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Rebecca Levant - News & Reviews

Calgary Herald, Thursday, March 23, 2006

Local singer spreads message to tolerance, understanding

by Jacqueline Louie (for Neighbours)

Calgary singer Rebecca Levant is on a lifelong journey to build bridges of understanding between people of diverse cultures. Whether it's through sharing her love of music with others or through her work as a consultant on community, organization and personal issues, Levant finds great joy in bringing people together and helping them rejoice in their common humanity.
"We've got to cross these old boundaries. We've got to forge new relationships", says the professional singer, Levant also volunteers to sing at charitable and interfaith events, and leads healing workshops based on Judaic principles using music, meditation and prayer for people of all faiths and ages. Among her many other volunteer activities; she leads monthly Sabbath services for Jewish seniors and is a board member of the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, Alberta region. While the schedule can be brueling, Levant thrives on what she does.
"It's exhilarating", she says. "Even though many people have faced some very serious challenges, what can come out of overcoming challenges is believing in one's self. We all have gifts that we need to share, that it's our duty to share. I revel in the learning opportunities that are coming my way - the opportunities to refine myself and live life with more joy and wisdom".
Levant, who describes her age as 'past the mid-century mark', beggars her involvement with the theatre and performing arts at the age of five in Winnipeg, where she grew up. As a teenager, she starred in the Canadian premiere of the stage play, The Diary of Anne Frank. Today,. Levant is a cantorial soloist - a singer who interprets the liturgy for Jewish congregations in Calgary, across Canada and internationally. "I have also sung for Christian churches who have shown an extraordinary and delightful interest in their own roots", Levant says, "My mission is to share the beauty of Jewish music not only with my own culture, but also to share the beauty and origins of Jewish music with all communities, because so much of our music is interrelated".
And this is where the idea for Levant's latest project has come from; Levant is producing and singing in a concert of Jewish tango music, featuring several outstanding Alberta musicians and an Argentinean tango dance duo. Nostalgia will be a performance of soul-stirring music and the Argentinean tango, the most passionate of dances. The concert will take place in Calgary this spring (tickets are on sale now) and will be recorded by CBC Radio 2 for future broadcast across Alberta. "This is a concert about sharing gifts, sharing music and knowledge, and bringing joy to people", says Levant, who describes Nostalgia as an events suitable for people of all ages -families, seniors, and music and dance lovers. It will especially appeal to people who love world and roots music, as well as fans of the tango. "Anyone who loves tango music is going to love it -it's 'your heart's breaking' kind of stuff", smiles Levant. "There is a world-wide love affair with the tango".
the tango comes from South America, from the immigrants to Argentina and Uruguay. The music is a fusion of European, South American and African rhythms. While the tango's exact origins are difficult to pinpoint, many different groups contributes to the development of the dance and music, including the Jewish culture. Other major contributions were made by the various immigrant groups who arrived in Buenos Aires in the late 1800s, including Italians, Russians French, Turks, Irish and Germans and Africans. This class of immigrants, who were typically very poor, made tango music their own. That's why Levant is calling this concert, Nostalgia. "Tango was about their longing for what they had left behind, their loves and their dreams", she explains.
The moniker "Jewish tango' is unique, adds Levant, whose concert will feature tango songs by Jewish composers and lyricists in three languages: Yiddish, Spanish and Ladino. The concert repertoire will mostly focus on tango music from the 1920s to 1940s, as well as on Sephardic music. It will also include three pieces by world renowned Argentinean composer Astor Piazzolla, who grew up in New York City near Italian and Jewish neighbourhoods, where he was influenced by both musical traditions.
The artist performing in the concert with Levant are classical accordionist Penny Sanborn, classical guitarist Ralph Maier, improvisational clarinettist Ian Burleigh, and Argentinean tango dancers Vince and Cindy Davis.
The concert will take place Sunday, June 4 at 7 pm at Beth Tzedec Congregation, 1325 Glenmore TR. SW (east of 14 ST SW). "The concert is in a delightful venue, which is fast becoming known as an arts centre and has previously hosted chamber groups like the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and theatre groups presentations", says Levant.

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