Description

GERSHON SIROTA (SIROTINI) (PODOLIA, 1874 – WARSAW, 19 APRIL, 1943)

Gerson Sirota was born in 1874 in Odessa and first sang in synagogues there. However, in 1900 he was named Chief Cantor of Vilna, a position later to be held by a number of other famous cantors, including Mordechai Hershman. It was here that Sirota reached great prominence, performing frequently before the Russian nobility. In 1908, Sirota was called as Chief Cantor of the Great Synagogue in Warsaw. With a widespread reputation on an international scale, primarily because of the wide distribution of his recordings which he had begun in 1903, he began a series of concert tours of America. He first toured cross country in 1912, appearing in most of the major synagogues as well as concert halls. Sirota’s international concert tours continued on an undiminished scale between the wars. He returned to the United States again in 1922 and on a number of other occasions, culminating in a 1938 tour. So frequent were Sirota’s  excursions abroad that the synagogue officials in Warsaw decided to replace him. When he returned after officiating in New York on the High Holidays of 1927, he found that a successor had been found for his position, the young Moshe Kusevitsky. Sirota had no trouble finding another position in Warsaw, and in 1934 he was honored by Warsaw Jewry for his thirty years of service to the community at a special concert held at Warsaw’s Hippodrome Theater. Tragically, Sirota was not spared the fate dealt to the Jews with the advent of Nazism. Returning to Warsaw after a trip abroad in 1938, he was trapped in the Warsaw Ghetto. His four sons and four daughters and their families are believed to have died during the shelling of the city. Sirota is believed to have perished on the concluding day of Passover, 1943. There is little question that Sirota possessed one of the greatest voices of his time. A true dramatic tenor, with both great range and flexibility, as well as a beautiful quality, Sirota might well have become an outstanding operatic singer, but for religious reasons he chose to remain a cantor. Caruso, having heard him sing, was quoted as stating: “Thank God he has chosen to employ his heavenly gift in a different field and I do not have to compete with such a formidable challenger in opera.” Early in his recording career, Sirota made several operatic recordings under the name Sirotini so as not to divulge his true identity, but later excursions into opera were all sung under his real name.

TRACKLIST

1. Berosh Ha-shana yekatevu Favorite 1-75603 4096-o–
2. Haben Yakir Li Favorite 1-75611 4104-o-
3. Haneroth Ha-aelu Favorite 1-75610 4103-o-
4. Hayom Haras Oylom Favorite 1-75604 4097-o-
5. Kedusho Mimkaumcho Favorite 1-75607 4100-o
6. Kewakoras Roje sdroi Favorite 1-75605 4098-o-
7. R’tse Bemnukhoseynu Favorite 1-75602 4095-o-
8. Tzadik Katamar Yifrakh Favorite 1-75599 4092-o-
9. U. Nsane Toikef Favorite 1-75598 4091-o-
10. V’haser Satan Favorite 1-75606 4099-o-
11. V’te’eray Eilecha Favorite 1-75600 4093-o-
12. Weszomru Favorite 1-75612 4105-o-
13. Yaleh Takhnuneynu Favorite 1-75597 4090-o-
14. Умипней Хатоейну Favorite 1-75601 4094-o-

1. Adoin Oilom Victor 35450-A
2. Aw Horachmim Victor 17771-B
3. Birchos Kohan Victor 17771-A
4. Broisch haschoni Victor 64275
5. Habein Jakir Li Victor 64272
6. Hajojm horas oilom Victor 64273
7. Halbein chatoeinu Victor 64230
8. Hamchadeisch b’tuwoj Victor 17796-A
9. Iru Eineinu Victor 64385
10. Kwojdoj und mimkojmoi Victor 17796-B
11. L’dojr wodojr Victor 17798-B
12. Odom Yasoido Meator Victor 35450-B
13. Rezei wimnuchoseinu Victor 17798-A
14. Socharti Loch Victor 17797-A
15. Tikanto schabos Victor 17833-B
16. Umipei chatoënu Victor 61107
17. Umsanei Teikef Victor 64274
18. Weseeraw olecho Victor 17744-A
19. W’nemar loi hibit owoja Victor 64384
20. Wschomru Victor 17833-A

1. Adoin oilom 011500 168Hp G&T, Vilna 1903
2. Habein jakir loi Efrajim 11568 415z G&T, Warszawa 1902-12
3. Himoze lopu 11584 1682z G&T, Vilna 1903
4. Jaale 11583 1681z G&T, Vilna 1903
5. Jisgadal wejiskadasch 11574 1680z G&T, Warszawa 1902-12
6. Me scheosso nissim 11589 1690z G&T, Vilna 1903
7. Melech rachmon 11569 416z G&T, Warszawa 1902-12
8. Mimkoimoi hu jifen (w. chorus) 11563 410z G&T, Warszawa 1902-12
9. Odom yasoido meator 011501 169Hp G&T, Vilna 1903
10. Rezei 11585 1683z G&T, Vilna 1903
11. Schlosch esrei midoisch 11567 414z G&T, Warszawa 1902-12
12. Umipnei chatoenu 11570 417z G&T, Warszawa 1902-12
13. Wehoser Soton 11573 1691z G&T, Vilna 1903
14. Weiseelaw olecho 11572 419z G&T, Warszawa 1902-12
15. Weschomru 11591 1692z G&T, Vilna 1903

1. Broish Haschonu ikuseiwin Columbia E6005
2. Eili, Eili (Alman) Columbia 9453 AX 3697
3. Habein Jakir Ii Columbia E 6001 75600
4. Haiom haras oilom Columbia E6005
5. Hatikvah (Alman) Columbia 9453 AX 3695
6. Jaale Columbia E 6004 75597
7. Jhi rozenjn Schetsehadeisch olenu Columbia E8001
8. Kedusho Mimkoimcho Columbia E6003
9. Kewakuras Columbia E6000
10. Kol Nidrei Columbia E8001
11. Odon Jsedo Meofor Columbia E8000
12. Schlosch eschrei midos Columbia E6003
13. Shomoh Vatismach Zion Columbia 57032-F AX 3648
14. Umipnei Chatueinu Columbia E6002
15. Unsane Toikef Columbia E6000
16. Wehosor Soton Columbia E6004 756066
17. Weschomru Columbia E6002
18. Weseorew olecho Solo Columbia E6001 75611

1. Adonaj, adonaj Odeon 18225
2. Adonoj Adonoj (Adoszem) Beka 10848
3. Ail Mole Rachmim Beka 10716
4. Aw horachamin Pathé 29055
5. Aw Horahmim, 1 Syrena 18588
6. Aw Horahmim, 2 Syrena 18589
7. Berausch haschono jikusewun Odeon 18226
8. Bni uben bni Pathé  29060
9. Eiz chajim Pathé  29061
10. Haben Jakerle Beka 10847
11. Haben jakir li Pathé 29050
12. Hu Eloheinu Imperial 103X (A55X)
13. Kevakoras Okeh 14006-B
14. Kodosh atoh Decca F.2815 B GB 3595-1DJP
15. Kveidei molei oilom Imperial 103X (A53X)
16. Mimchoimcho maleinu Pathé  29059
17. Mimkoimoi Pathé  29053
18. Mimkomcho Malkeinu (fun Kedushe) UHD&C 1054
19. Ohawti ki üschma Pathé 29054
20. R’zei Bimnuchoseinu Syrena 18581
21. Rzei Pathé 29058
22. Schima Wetismach Zion Syrena 18580
23. Unsaneh Toikef Okeh 14006-A
24. Veseorev lephonecho Decca F.2815 A  GB 3594-2CJP
25. Waschomru Pathé 29056
26. Weschomru Odeon 18002
27. Wesserow lefonecho Pathé  29057
28. Whosser soton Pathé  29052
29. Zachreinu B’zikaron Tov Imperial 108
30. Zadik katomor Pathé  29051