Lucas Richman

Lucas Richman, music director of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, will present “Ernest Bloch: A Musical Neshuma (A Musical Soul)” at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, in the McClung Museum auditorium, 1327 Circle Park Drive, on the campus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The event is free and open to the public.

 

Richman will discuss the life and art of Bloch, a Swiss-American composer who is one of the most celebrated Jewish composers in the world of classical music.

 

The presentation is hosted by UT’s Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Program in Judaic Studies as part of its 20th anniversary speaker series exploring Judaism and Israel from antiquity to the modern world.

 

On Feb. 20 and 21 at the Tennessee Theatre, Richman will conduct the KSO in a performance of some of Bloch’s compositions, joined by the UT Choral Ensemble. For more information on ticket prices, visit http://knoxvillesymphony.com.

 

Other programs in the series:

 

Henry Fribourg, UT professor emeritus of plant sciences, will take part in a lunchtime “nosh and chat” discussion, “Escape to Freedom: A Story of Survival, Dreams, Betrayal and Accomplishments,” organized by Professor Marilyn Kallet and the UT Creative Writing Program, noon Feb. 12, in 1210 McClung Tower.

 

Tsvi Kahana of Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada, will deliver the Karen and Pace Robinson Lecture on Modern Israel, “Majestic Constitutionalism: The Israeli Version,” organized by Professor Robert Blitt and the College of Law, 7 p.m. March 25, in College of Law Room 132, with reception to follow.

 

For more information on the Judaic Studies program, visit http://web.utk.edu/~judaic.