New album - Feb, 2016
Conceived in 2011, "Tur Malka" (New songs of Yiddish Montreal) consists of 15 original melodies based on Yiddish poems that were written in the 20th century by poets who chose Montreal as their home.
This project is a musical setting of works by leading figures of Canadian Yiddish literature : Jacob Isaac Segal, Chava Rosenfarb, Rokhl Korn, Melekh Ravitch, Ida Maze, A.M. Klein, N.I. Gotlib. Supported by contemporary Yiddish experts including Pierre Anctil, Rivka Augenfeld and Goldie Morgentaler, this project aims to revive an important period of Yiddish culture in Canada. Oppenheim’s poignant melodic tunes reveal a range of styles from folk ballads to electro-infused popular songs.
The Poems speak of simple things and wonderments, of love and of care: the challenge of loving in a world of mistrust, a vision of purity in a corrupted world, love for children, the moments of anticipation of a loving encounter, the pleasures of a local park, the powerful and fearsome industry of the booming urban environment - the elements the personal and civic landscape of the new home of the Jewish refugees to 20th century Montreal.
The album, recorded and produced in 2016 by the great Montreal producer Howard Bilerman in his celebrated studio Hotel2Tango, was released on feb 16th, 2016.
The Poems speak of simple things and wonderments, of love and of care: the challenge of loving in a world of mistrust, a vision of purity in a corrupted world, love for children, the moments of anticipation of a loving encounter, the pleasures of a local park, the powerful and fearsome industry of the booming urban environment - the elements the personal and civic landscape of the new home of the Jewish refugees to 20th century Montreal.
The album, recorded and produced in 2016 by the great Montreal producer Howard Bilerman in his celebrated studio Hotel2Tango, was released on feb 16th, 2016.
On the recording, this project involves the following team :
Karen Young : Guest lead singer Henri Oppenheim : Composition, accordion, guitar, singer Michael Emenau : Laptop, vibraphone, percussion, bass Vanessa Marcoux : Violin, mandolin |
Since the summer 2016, the live version of the show involves
Henri Oppenheim : Singer, Composition, accordion, guitar Michael Emenau : Laptop, vibraphone, percussion Julien Patrice : Violin, mandolin, voice Blanche Baillargeon : Bass, voice. |
The musicians

Henri Oppenheim (Voice, guitar, accordion) is an composer originally from Paris who has made Montreal his home for the past 17 years. A former researcher in mathematics, Henri studied composition and orchestration at McGill University (Montreal). He was the accordionist and director of the Montreal klezmer ensemble Kleztory for many years, producing between 2002 and 2012 over 300 concerts in Canada, the United States, South-America, China and Europe. Notable concerts include performances with les Orchestres Symphoniques de Montréal et de Québec and I Musici de Montréal. With I Musici de Montreal he recorded a CD in 2004 for the prestigious classical British label Chandos. A Montreal-based multi-instrumentalist, he has done many artistic collaborations, as composer, arranger, musical director, accordionist, percussionist and producer, primarily in the fields of Jewish music. He regularly gives conferences about Klezmer and Yiddish music. He has arranged and produced the 2007 CD with Kleztory, which earned the Canadian Opus Prize in 2007. Fotografie, his 2013 recording, was finalist of the Canadian 2014 Opus Prize.
Henri Oppenheim is an associate composer at the Canadian Music Centre of Quebec, a member of the music committee of the Conseil des Arts de Montreal, and a part time music therapist at the Montreal Jewish General Hospital.
Henri Oppenheim is an associate composer at the Canadian Music Centre of Quebec, a member of the music committee of the Conseil des Arts de Montreal, and a part time music therapist at the Montreal Jewish General Hospital.
Musicians featured on the album
a few poems
more information
The Historic Jewish Quarter of Montreal : Wikipedia article.
The Yiddish language poets of Montreal who are sources for this project :
The Yiddish language poets of Montreal who are sources for this project :
- Chava Rosenfarb : Wikipedia – Web site
- Jacob Isaac Segal : Biography (french) - Montreal Jewish Public Library
- I. Maze : Jewish Women’s Archive – Montreal Jewish Public Library
- M. Ravitch : YIVO
- R. Korn : Montreal Jewish Public Library - Jewish Women’s Archive – YIVO
- A.M. Klein : Wikipedia - The Poetry Foundation
- N.I. Gottlib : Montreal Jewish Public Library