Today on Radiant Others, violinist, composer, bandleader Alicia Svigals. Since the 1980s, Alicia has been a major figure in the klezmer and Yiddish music worlds. She was a founding member of the Klezmatics, and took a lead role in bringing back attention to the traditional fiddle style of klezmer music, especially with her groundbreaking album Fidl. Her newest album, Fidl Afire (out on the Borscht Beat label), sees her back in the driver seat of a rocking klezmer band after many years. In the meantime, Alicia has remained at the forefront of Yiddish music, composing music for theater, silent films, and being a part of many major bands, such as Mikveh.
Dan and Alicia talk about her new record, and touch many other topics including how she developed her sound, and what it was like to foreground being an out lesbian in a different era.
The music in this episode includes:
Music from Fidl Afire
Music from Beregovsky Suite
An excerpt from the score of A City Without Jews
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