PRIMER AMOR
RECEIVES FIRST PRIZE
at 5th Festiladino
(The International New Ladino Song Competition)

Haim Vitali Sadacca	Renata Sibel Yolak

the musical rendition of Primer Amor,
performed live at Festiladino

Haim Vitali Sadacca’s Primer Amor (First Love) received first prize at the presitigous Festiladino competition of new Ladino songs.

The 5th Festiladino (The International New Ladino Song Competition) took place at the Jerusalem Theatre in the Henry Crown Hall, on Wednesday, Dececember 31, 2008. The competition was sponsored and hosted by Yitzhak Navon, the fifth President of Israel and Chairman of the National Authority for Ladino Culture.

One of the 60+ entries was Primer Amor, written by Haim Vitali Sadacca and set to music by Renata Sibel Yolak of Istanbul. It was performed live at the competition by Tzahi Siton and Noa Godel.

The “Festiladino” competition was established to promote and distribute the writings of new Ladino-language creations. Thanks to the Festival, creators, singers and musical adapters from Israel and around the world gather together within a creative circle. The competition raises public awareness of the magical culture of Ladino singing. The last four Festiladino competitions held between 2003-2007 won wide acclaim.

According to Ronny Weiss, musical manager of the competition, “… Festiladino is a live song contest accompanied by a symphony orchestra, and the competing songs are on a high musical level. The texts celebrate Ladino storytelling tradition, the melodies are catchy and warm and the style hints at Sephardic musical roots.”

After performances for each individual entry a vote count was tallied. Yitzhak Navon personally announced the winner and awarded the top prize to Primer Amor. “The fact that the participants in the contest are creators from different countries attests to the intense desire to see Ladino as a living and revived language,” said Navon. “The competition proves that the Ladino culture is not just a fond memory of the past, but a new creation which runs in the veins.”

Read Reneta Sibel Yolak's article Festiladino 2008.

To view the music and lyrics.