Ruimonte performs Sephardic Treasures

The ensemble Ruimonte performs Sephardic Treasures, selected from the Sephardic Romancero, a collection of songs originating in 12th to 15th Century Spain.

During the early 20th Century these songs were transcribed from the women’s oral tradition in Sephardic communities around the Mediterranean in Morrocco, Palestine, the Balkans and elsewhere in the Ottoman Empire .

In Sephardic Treasures, the ensemble Ruimonte incorporates elements of classical, jazz and flamenco in their original interpretations of these songs from medieval Spain to represent the influences of the Sephardic diaspora. Jews were expelled from Spain and much of Catholic Europe during these years, culminating in the Spanish Order of Expulsion in 1492.

The ensemble Ruimonte features the singing of Ana María Ruimonte of Madrid, known as “The Spanish Mezzo&Soprano” with the arrangements of music director American jazz bassist Alan Lewine, generally accompanied by 1-4 other musicians. They have performed throughout Spain, the United States, Israel, Belgium, Holland and most recenlty in the Gran Teatro of Havana Cuba.