Cantor Misha Alexandrovitch - "Live Shavuos Hallel with Leon Berger Choir 1979"

Mikhail (Mischa) Alexandrovich 1914 – 2002 Mischa Alexandrovich was born in Berspils, Latvia and from a very young age was recognised as a ‘wunderkind.’ He gave his first public concert at the age of nine. Already as a very small child his parents recognised his musical talents, and he was sent to study theory and piano at the Riga Academy when he was only seven.As he developed, he studied voice production with well-known vocal teacher Reya Ratner.He met Moshe Kussevitsky in 1930 and, after hearing him sing, Kussevitsky was greatly impressed and encouraged Mischa to continue with his studies.In 1934, at the age of twenty, he went to Milan to study with Professor D. Gili (it’s also reported that he studied with the famous tenor Benjamino Gili). In 1936 Alexabdrovich came to England where he served as Chazan in the Central Synagogue in Manchester for two years, and, following a concert tour in Europe he accepted a post as Chazan in Kovno, Lithunia. While he was in Kovno he also appeared in operatic roles with the Lithuanian Opera Company playing in such operas as Rigoletto, L’Elise d’Amore and La Traviata. When Latvia became part of the Soviet Union in 1940, he was no longer able to travel outside the country and he became a Soviet performer. He served during the war by entertaining the Russian troops when he sent as far as the Causasus. He performed in Moscow in 1943 and was so successful that he undertook three extensive tours of the Soviet Union, travelling right up to the artic Circle. He made many radio broadcasts, and these, together with his recordings made him a very well-known and popular performer. His musical performances included classical Russian songs as well as an extensive Yiddish repertoire. He gave private concerts for Stalin and Kuuschev, and was given the highest awards that the Soviet Union could bestow on its artistes, however, he was not able to travel to the west. In the 1970’s an international campaign was launched to gain him the right to leave Russia, which included appeals by Golda Meir. He was eventually granted permission and subsequently enjoyed a successful career as Chazan in israel and America, where he gave many concerts. He died in Munich on July 3rd 2002.