Naomi and Ruth

The cantata Naomi and Ruth, Op. 27, is a nonliturgical work, written by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco in 1947.^[1]

It is subtitled "small cantata for woman's voice on the book of Ruth" and its text is in English. The composer described the work as autobiographical with the soprano, Naomi, representing his mother and the choir, Ruth, his wife. The work is representative of the Judaic inspiration of the composer.

The first performance took place in Los Angeles in 1949. Performance lasts approximately ten minutes.

^ Wingard, Eileen (October 13, 2016). "Grossmont's classical concert at Temple Solel a machiah". sdjewishworld. Retrieved 2022-07-19. After intermission, the Chorale's women and orchestra joined forces with mezzo-soprano, Ava Baker Liss as soloist in Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco's cantata, Naomi and Ruth. This was sung in English. The soloist was cast in the role of Naomi, while the chorus represented both the narrator and Ruth, climaxing with those memorable words of loyalty and devotion, "Whither thou goest, I will go. And where thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God."

[1] Wingard, Eileen (October 13, 2016). "Grossmont's classical concert at Temple Solel a machiah". sdjewishworld. Retrieved 2022-07-19. After intermission, the Chorale's women and orchestra joined forces with mezzo-soprano, Ava Baker Liss as soloist in Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco's cantata, Naomi and Ruth. This was sung in English. The soloist was cast in the role of Naomi, while the chorus represented both the narrator and Ruth, climaxing with those memorable words of loyalty and devotion, "Whither thou goest, I will go. And where thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God."

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