The Viennese Jewish Choir on the traces of Jewish tradition in eastern Europe.
Their luxury coach with more than 35 members of the Viennese Jewish Choir left for a region which once ago was a highlight of Jewish tradition and history: Galicia, the region roughly between today's west Ukraine and Moldavia. Travelling on bumpy roads, stopped by angry customs officers, they passed the green valleys of the Carpathic Mountains and the cities' run down peripheries from Soviet times. They gave concerts for example in Drogobyc and L'wow, cities once famous for the richness of Jewish culture and tradition. Silent, prayerful moments changed with spontaneous dancing and singing of songs in Hebrew and Jiddish whenever some of the choir's members felt to do so.
The Viennese Jewish Choir was founded in 1990, representing Vienna at international jewish music festivals. Its well known leader and conductor is Roman Grinberg who lures harmonious yiddish,hebrew and sephardic songs out of a colorful bunch of enthusiastic individuals.
Of course, this trip was far more than just a concert trip. For some days, the 35 members of the Viennese Jewish Choir took vital jewish tradition, celebration and a large portion of humor back to a region, where the marks of the cruel history of destruction in the 20th century are visible wherever you go.
When Photographer Steffen Roth came back from the two weeks journey through Ukraine and Moldavia with the choir, he knew that he will come back to the countries of unforgettable hospitality.