Jacob Barkin

Coming from an illustrious Cantorial music tradition, Jacob Barkin and his family immigrated to Canada in 1920 when he was 6 years old. Although he always sang in the synagogue he achieved fame by singing popular music on the radio during the early 1930s in Philadelphia.  He officiated in a San Francisco synagogue from the early 1940s through 1952 when he took a position with Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, DC.

While in Washington, DC his reputation as an important cantor grew. He expanded his repertoire to include concerts and opera.  Performing with the Washington National Symphony and touring across the USA, Mexico, Italy and Israel enhanced his prominence and stature as a great cantor.

During the 1960s his interest in classical opera grew as he studied with the famed Maestro Fausto Cleva. This led to operatic performances with the Pittsburgh and New York Symphony Orchestras and culminated in an offer of a contract by the Metropolitan Opera.

Choosing to continue his life in the pulpit, he left Washington in the mid 1970s and moved to Pittsburgh, PA where he performed both Cantorial and Operatic works in his concerts.

He was decorated by the Israeli government for his many Israeli performances and support of the troops and for several years stepped into Richard Tucker’s role as Cantor for High Holiday services at the Concord Hotel in upstate New York (Catskills).

He sang at Holy Blossom Congregation in Toronto, until his retirement in 1995.

Music courtesy of Robert Barkin, son of the late Cantor Jacob Barkin.


Total: 21

A Concert of Jewish Music
A Family Album
Barkin and the Composers
Cantor Jacob Barkin: Hanuka Service
Cantorial Masterpieces & Jewish Folk Songs
Choral Masterpieces of the Synagogue
Choral Masterworks of the Synagogue
Great Cantors of the Present
Hatikvah! Richard Tucker Sings Great Jewish Favori...
Hebrew Liturgical Music
Jacob Barkin in Concert
Kol Nidrey - A Comparative Tape
Matai Yavo H-Mashiach / In Cheder / Sound an Alarm...
Orchestral Hall Concert
Previously Unreleased Recordings
Recital of Jewish Music
Religious Masterworks
Sholom Sefunda's Family Chanukah Festival
The Art of Jacob Barkin: Liturgy and Oratorio
The Days of Awe
The Poetry and Prophecy of the Old Testament