The premiere performance in Germany of Kapela Kotra, a brilliant young Vilnius-based trio that brings together the distinct yet kindred worlds of klezmer music and Belarusian traditional folklore. The trio is made up of Belarusian folklorists Alena Kandyba (cello) and Katsiaryna Hil (cimbal) and Australian klezmer violinist Morgan Maruthiah.  

Kapela Kotra researches and performs rarely-heard Belarusian-Jewish village music from the ethnographic collections of Sofia Magid, Susman Kiselgof and Ina Nazina. This music, which is very different from the clarinet-based klezmer standards often heard in Germany, ranges from meditative vocal nigunim to lively Northeastern European instrumental  polkas and round dances. 

Kapela Kotra is Artist-in-Residence at Yiddish Summer Weimar this year, and we are delighted to give more people the chance to get to know this up-and-coming young ensemble that is already making waves throughout the international Yiddish music world. 

Line-up:
Alena Kandyba (BY) - cello
Katsiaryna Hil (BY) - cimbalom
Morgan Maruthiah (AU) - violin