On this month’s episode of Radiant Others, Dan sits down with actor, playwright, stage director, lyricist, and Yiddishist, Mikhl Yashinsky (מיכל יאַשינסקי). Mikhl shares his fantastic passion for all things Yiddish: the language, the poetry, the music, the history and more. We talk about the many connections to Yiddish from his personal history, his journey into the heights of the modern Yiddish theater, and how he finds the shockingly memorable sources for his own plays. This conversation is a good overview of one of the top people acting in and creating new Yiddish theater today. And it’s a beautifully informed and fun talk simply about the joys (and dark sides) of Yiddish.
If you’re in New York for the last week of June, Mikhl will be premiering a new Yiddish musical Sude fun di zibn zindikers (Feast of the Seven Sinners) the last weekend of June at the 14th St. Y. with music by Mikhl, Mattias Kaufmann, Rebecca MacInnes, and Raffi Boden. Buy tickets and check it out!
Mikhl’s Yiddish translation of “The Way Old Friends Do” by ABBA
Loshn Libe (Tongue Love) performed by Mikhl at Yiddish Idol
Excerpt from Di psure loyt khaim (The Gospel According to Chaim)
Exerpt from Sude fun di zibn zindikers (Feast of the Seven Sinners)
Radiant Others is produced by Dan Blacksberg and Beila Ungar. The podcast aims to be the internet’s central space for important conversations in Yiddish and Klezmer music. Please support our work on https://www.patreon.com/RadiantOthers
Podcast: Play in new window | Download