SUMMER FILM SERIES
Watch the film at home, then join us online for a talk with the musicians of Trio Sefardi…
Presented by Trio Sefardi
Susan Gaeta, Tina Chancey, and Howard Bass
Join us to explore the world of “La Nona Kanta: The Remarkable Life of Flory Jagoda!” Conceived, written, and presented by Trio Sefardi, this musical journey presents a tale of survival and courage that has particular relevance in today’s turbulent world.
Through filmed interviews, Flory tells the true story of how music helped her escape from Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia when she was a teenager; how she made a life in the United States; and how she turned the tragic fate of her family and Balkan Sephardic culture into a celebration of five centuries of faith and tradition, giving meaning to the rest of her life and delighting audiences worldwide.
Flory’s filmed narration* alternates with live performances of her music by Trio Sefardi, pictures from the Altarac family archives, animation, and translations of Flory’s songs, which were composed in Ladino and Serbo-Croatian.
*Film footage from the documentary “Flory’s Flame” (GEMGLO, 2014) is used by permission.
“This is a story that resonates today as the world continues to struggle with war, genocide, and the existential threats to suffering people. We believe La Nona Kanta will give audiences, young and old, Jews and non-Jews alike, a shining example of one person’s triumph over adversity and will lend new meaning to the ongoing battles against hatred and prejudice.”
- Jaime J. Monllor, International Outreach Officer, David M. Rubenstein National Institute for Holocaust Documentation at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Standard Program Rate: $15
Base Program Rate (Subsidized): $10
Screen "La Nona Kanta" at home from June 24-July 1.
Then, join us online for a talk with the members of Trio Sefardi on July 1 at 7:30 PM.
Barring technical issues, the July 1 Director Talk will be posted on our Program Recording Archive.
Haberman Institute programs are offered on a sliding payment scale. Both tiers receive identical access to the program. Should the registration rates become a barrier to participation, please contact our Executive Director, Matthew Silverman.
Trio Sefardi (Susan Gaeta, Tina Chancey, and Howard Bass) is dedicated to bringing the vibrant past into the living present and to continuing the musical traditions of those who created and sustained Sephardic song traditions and the Ladino language for more than five centuries since Spain expelled its Jewish population in 1492. Formed in 2010, the trio draws on experience in folk music, jazz, early music, and the influence of their mentor, the Bosnian-born Sephardic singer/composer Flory Jagoda (1923 – 2021). This anthology includes favorite songs from the trio’s four previous albums, was released as partof the celebration of its 15 th anniversary (2025). Trio Sefardi has performed at the Kennedy Center, National Gallery of Art, US Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Center for Jewish History, Piccolo Spoleto, and at countless festivals, JCCs, and synagogues from Maine to Florida and beyond. In addition to concerts and festival appearances, their multimedia show, “La Nona Kanta: The Remarkable Life of Flory Jagoda,” which includes interview footage with Flory, live music by the trio, animation, and still images, continues to delight and inform audiences, and receives support from the Holocaust Museum.
Since its founding in 2010 Trio Sefardi has performed at the Kennedy Center and the National Gallery of Art; as featured performers in the 2011 Washington Revels show at Lisner Auditorium; at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum for Holocaust Remembrance Day; at the Center for Jewish History for the first and fifth NYC Ladino Day; and at synagogues, Jewish community centers, and on concert series up and down the East Coast. They have released four CDs, the most recent of which, “Rikordus,” is a tribute to Flory Jagoda; that CD is a companion piece to their multi-media show, “La Nona Kanta: The Remarkable Life of Flory Jagoda.”