Jacob’s Dream Symphonic Poem Performed in Be’er-Sheva: Video Release

Composer Baruch Berliner’s YouTube channel now features a video of a performance of Jacob’s Dream symphonic poem for narrator, baritone, and orchestra, recorded at the Be’er Sheva Performing Arts Center in Israel.

Jacob’s Dream is a symphonic poem inspired by the well-known biblical story of Jacob, who, in a dream, saw a ladder reaching to the heavens and beheld the Lord Himself, who promised blessings to him and his descendants.

Dr. Berliner’s composition was presented by the Israel Sinfonietta Beer Sheva Chamber Orchestra under Dmitry Yablonsky’s direction, featuring bass-baritone Alexey Kanunnikov and narrator Ronen Hirshler.

Mr. Yablonsky is an Israeli-American conductor and cellist, a Merited Artist of Azerbaijan, and a Grammy Award nominee in the category of Best Instrumental Soloist Performance with Orchestra. As a cellist, he has recorded a range of albums, including a double disk featuring David Popper’s High School of Cello Playing, cello concertos by Aram Khachaturian and Nino Rota, and sonatas by Dmitri Shostakovich and Mieczysław Weinberg. As a conductor, he has led ensembles including the Belgian National Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, among many others, and has recorded more than seventy albums.

The Israel Sinfonietta Beer Sheva is the country’s leading chamber orchestra, based in the capital of the Negev. A regular presence on the world’s most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall and the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, the ensemble presents both classical masterpieces and contemporary works while enriching the cultural life of the region.

A graduate of the vocal program at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Alexey Kanunnikov is a soloist with the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv. He has performed with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the orchestra of the Romanian National Opera, and the Haifa Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Kanunnikov has collaborated with such conductors as Vladimir Jurowski, Zubin Mehta, Asher Fisch, Daniel Inbal, and Massimiliano Stefanelli.

Ronen Hirshler is a professional Israeli announcer, radio host, voice-over artist, and master of ceremonies for official events.

Produced by Nachum Slutzker, General Manager of Baruch Berliner’s Genesis International Project