"Mezzo-soprano, cantor and Concordia alumna Sofia Falkovitch enjoys her international reach. Falkovitch’s remarkable singing talents extend beyond her voice and onstage presence to her fluency in Russian, French, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, Spanish and English. Her singing range is wide, coloured and layered, while her technique both textured and complex. In her life as a singer, Falkovitch sees a treasure trove of opportunity to work together and communicate with people of other religions and cultures, through storytelling and creativity. Her optimistic and pragmatic outlook envisions a way to come together, to bridge the mosaical divide by tearing down walls and prejudices — through the gift of music."

– Concordia University

 

“Today’s leading voice of the Jewish Cantorial Art” – Allegro

 

“A pioneer who finds her own way and style.” – Deutsche Welle

 

“Her stunning voice convinced even the biggest sceptics!” – WDR

 

“An Exceptional Artist!” – Tribune Juive

 

“Expressive singing ... Beautiful recording ... The widespread program is presented in a subtly nuanced, soulful manner”– Pizzicato, in review of her album “Chants hébraïques et chants d'amour” Hebrew and Love Songs (Diapason d’Or) by Calliope Records.

 

 

Paris-based mezzo-soprano, extemporizer, composer, artistic director and producer, Sofia Falkovitch is the first female cantor (hazzan) ever trained and ordained in Europe and remains the only one in the history of France. Today she leads an active international career.

 

Born in Moscow, Sofia studies in Israel, Germany and Canada, and is trained by sought-after voice professors and masters of Jewish music. Sofia is the Official Representative of the European Cantors Association, jury member of international vocal competitions, festivals, artistic and spiritual committees.

 

Sofia's primary aim is to pass on and share her love for these musical treasures inherited from previous generations. Her award-wining recordings and conceptual projects are regularly featured on TV and in festivals across Europe, Israel, Canada and the USA.

 

Among her teachers are Reine Décarie (Vincent d'Indy School of Music), Madeleine Thériault (Jazz Voice Professor at McGill Schulich School of Music), Marina Levitt and Penina Schwartz (Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance), Eliyahu Schleifer (Hebrew Union College of Jerusalem), Nino Sandow (Hanns Eisler Academy of Music Berlin), Verena Rein (Berlin University of the Arts) and Theresa Brancaccio (Northwestern Bienen School of Music).

 

Sofia is a scholarship recipient of the German National Academic Foundation Ernst-Ludwig-Ehrlich for Gifted Students. She learned Cantorial Arts at the School of Sacred Music of the Hebrew Union College and the Steinsaltz Institute in Jerusalem. She also studied at the Abraham Geiger College in Berlin and the University of Potsdam and wrote her Master’s thesis on the composer Samuel Naumbourg and his Influence on the Synagogue Music in Europe.

 

“Falkovitch, a mezzo-soprano, combines her opera training with ancient religious melodies and Yiddish folk music.” – Religion Unplugged Magazine. While Sofia’s main specialty is Jewish Sacred Music, she also boasts extensive non-Jewish repertoire in more than seven languages, in various genres and styles and collaborates with international artists.

 

Sofia captivates by her unique approach and original vocal expression, rare instantly recognizable voice described as “transcendent”, her ability to communicate easily in many languages and all that with a natural charisma.

 

Intercultural and interfaith dialogue is at the core of Sofia’s creative work. A highly sought-after performer, cantor and speaker, Sofia is regularly invited to appear in gala concerts, recitals and officiates at public events in Paris (such as the Festival of Jewish Culture, the Museum of Jewish Art and History, Paris City Hall, art galleries), in Israel (Elma Concert Hall, Blaustein Hall Jerusalem, Masada Historic Complex), in Berlin and throughout Europe (including her appearance as the first female cantor in Luxembourg), in North America and Asia at prestigious concert halls and international festivals.

 

Sofia is an ambassador of her faith and a leading voice of her generation. She therefore sings in places of worship, Cathedrals, Mosques and Synagogues representing all major branches of contemporary Judaism (such as the Imperial Cathedral in Aachen, Copernic Synagogue Paris, The Great Mosque of Strasbourg, Berlin Oranienburger Strasse Synagogue, St. Matthäus-Kirche Kulturforum Berlin; the Long Night of Religions at the Humboldt University of Berlin, the Freie University Berlin and the European Days of Jewish Culture in Freiburg).

 

Sofia’s recent performances include the Sacrées Journées de Strasbourg Festival, La Madeleine Church, Oratoire du Louvre, Temple de l'Etoile and the Church of Saint-Merri in Paris, Historic Chicago Loop Synagogue (the first woman ever to sing on the bima of this Synagogue), KAM Isaiah Israel, BHBE in Chicago and the Jewish Music Festival in Brussels.

 

In addition to performances, Sofia’s voice is regularly featured on Deutsche Welle News (Germany’s public international broadcaster), WDR (West German Broadcaster), i24NEWS (Israeli international 24-hour news and current affairs television channel), Deutschland Radio, France Culture, FIP, Allegro classical music channel and other TV and radio networks.

 

An accomplished actress, Sofia appears in numerous Theater and TV productions, including the Russian-language production Franzuzkie Strasti (French Passions) and collaborations with Theatre "O!" in Montreal, Canada. There she hosted the popular cultural TV program "Russian Hour", toured with her innovative Yiddish Show "Desert Rites", appeared at the KlezKanada Festival and worked as a journalist for RTVi Overseas Media in New York.

 

Sofia’s life story is always a source of fascination and the subject of documentaries for Deutsche Welle. Her creative and personal journey was also documented in the short film Di Shtim iz di Feder fun Hartsen (The Voice is the Pen of the Heart).

 

Sofia lives in Paris with her two children. She speaks French, German, English, Russian, Spanish, Hebrew and Yiddish (watch 7-Language-Video).