By Eileen Wingard
LA JOLLA, California — Brazilian-born singer Carla Berg’s original Chanukah song, “Nes” (Miracle), with lyrics in Ladino, is available as a video clip on YouTube and on other digital platforms. It was produced by Allan Phillips at APMStudio in San Diego and was released last year. It is a welcome addition to the Chanukah song repertoire and an appropriate addition to our Chanukah celebrations.
The multi-language songstress, now residing in San Diego, has two other videos available through digital platforms: an arrangement of “Ein Kelohenu” in Hebrew and Ladino, utilizing the Brazilian Baiao rhythm (from northeast Brazil) and the recently released “Ya-shema-ezyoneha,” a piyut (liturgical poetry by Spain’s Medieval Jewish poets), with lyrics in Ladino, a language Berg is mastering. Since Ladino is a mixture of Spanish and Hebrew, and she is familiar with both languages, this should not be too difficult a challenge for this multi-lingual performer.
Born to Hebrew and Arab speaking parents in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the talented singer grew up conversant in Hebrew, Arabic, and Portuguese. She also speaks Spanish and English and sings in all those languages.
In addition to her singing career, Berg received her BA degree from the Universidade Paulista in Sao Paulo in Child Development and an advanced degree in child development education and psychology from the Universidade Catolica de Sao Paulo. In addition to a brief teaching stint in pre-school at the Chabad Hebrew Academy, her two young daughters are prime beneficiaries of her child development education.She has sung in local choirs before pursuing a solo career. Kevyn Lettau, vocalist with the famed Sergio Mendes band, was her local voice coach.
On Thursday afternoon, February 9, at 2 p.m., Berg will be one of the three featured guests at the in-person program in the Astor Judaica Library: Treasures from the Music Collection of the Astor Judaica Library—Ladino Songs. She will help introduce several of the recorded selections sung by such luminaries as Flora Jagoda, Gerard Edery, Nico Castel and Yoram Gaon. Her rendition of “Ya-shema-ezyoneha” will conclude the 13 Ladino song-program. I will be serving as host for the event.
The three-part series, Treasures from the Music Collection of the Astor Judaica Library, will open on Thursday, January 5, 2 p.m., with Yiddish Songs with guests, Debbie Davis, Elisheva Edelson, and Elizabeth Schwartz. Recordings by all three will be included in the playlist.
Eileen Wingard is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com