CLEARFIELD Women of Valor
Andrea Clearfield, Composer
Hila Plitmann, Soprano
Rinat Shaham, Mezzo-soprano
Tovah Feldshuh, Narrator
Los Angeles Jewish Symphony
Women of Valor, an oratorio, is a celebration of women from the Old Testament, inspired by a midrash (biblical commentary) on Proverbs, where each line of the biblical text from Proverbs 31 represents a strong, resourceful woman. Texts for Women of Valor are drawn both from the Bible and from modern poems and prose. Women of Valor highlights the stories of Sarah, Leah, Rachel, Jocheved, Miriam, Hannah, Jael, Michal, Ruth, and Esther. The work was premiered in 2000 by the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony conducted by Noreen Green.
"The soloists are excellent. ... Plitmann sings with not only clarity but with abandon and with a real resonance to the text, two traits that stand her in fine stead for the dramatic penultimate movement (“Esther”)." - Fanfare
Hila Plitmann singing Women of Valor