SCHLAMASSEL TOV!

Life is wonderful – and sometimes even bearable. That is why we must make good use of the intervals that open up between all our great human problems: by devoting them to all the little ones. With a great deal of luck, we might even find a tiny bit of happiness for a moment. It is the same for all of us, whether Jews, non-Jews or anything in between. For Jews, and often for those in between as well, there is also antisemitism, anti-Judaism and anti-Zionism to contend with. And then all that hatred of Jews, too! But we will not let that put us off. We can remain optimistic – although perhaps not for much longer. And so, from the bottom of our hearts, we wish one another: Schlamassel tov!

In this program about Jewish life and life in general, somewhere between mazel and schlamassel, the notes that sound are not too true to be beautiful: Tatjana Davis plays the clarinet with virtuosity across a spectrum ranging from classical music to klezmer, enriched by loop variations, improvisations and her own compositions. Alexander Estis reads from his linguistically acrobatic satires, including “Am Anfang war Schmonzes”.

Tatjana Davis works as a freelance musician, stage artist, composer and educator in Dresden.

Alexander Estis is a writer, columnist and essayist. His work appears in publications including the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Süddeutsche Zeitung and DIE ZEIT.

Text, recitation: Alexander Estis

Music, clarinet: Tatjana Davis

Pressezitate

»Alexander Estis ist ein großes jüdisches Geschenk für das Gedachte und Gelachte auf Deutsch.« (Dmitrij Kapitelman)

»Alexander Estis ist der Hohepriester des jüdischen Witzes.« (Lea Streisand)

»… einer der originellsten deutschen Prosaisten der Gegenwart …« (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung über Alexander Estis)