Honoring Herzl’s vision, Israeli Opera ‘Theodor’ premieres in New York – Israeli Culture

The Israeli Opera celebrated the US film premiere of its original opera performance Theodor: The Unknown Story of Herzl in New York last week.

The evening, which was part of a series of events held at Temple Emanuel Cultural Center to mark the 120th anniversary of Theodor Herzl’s death, was sponsored by the Jusidman Foundation. In addition to the premiere, the live performances of the opera’s leading soloists Oded Reich (Herzl), Noam Heinz (Theodor) and Anat Czarny (Julie) were accompanied by Yonatan Cnaan on the piano.

In an emotional opening, the soloists performed a touching version of “Bring Him Home” from Les Misérables. hostage returns – and closed the event by singing “Hatikva” (following the original cast’s rendition at the end of the filmed performance).

The original opera production, Theodor: The Untold Story of Herzl, which took three years to write, was composed by Cnaan, conducted by librettist Ido Ricklin, and directed by Nimrod David Pfeffer.

ISRAEL’S FIRST prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, sits beneath a portrait of Theodor Herzl before reading the Declaration of Independence in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948. What would early Zionist leaders think of today’s Israel? (credit: GPO/FRANK SHERSHEL)

Bringing Herzl to America

“I am very excited to bring Theodor to New York, especially at this important moment in the history of the Jewish state. sharing Herzl’s vision and values I feel more urgent than ever through my music,” Cnaan said.

Opera revisited Origins of the Zionist movementIt explores the forces that inspired Herzl to champion the revolutionary idea of creating a state for the Jewish people, and delves into the stories and events of Herzl’s early life and the emotional and psychological motivations behind his vision.

The story is told in parallel by splitting the Zionist visionary into two characters: Theodor, a young idealist with a proud German identity, and Herzl, whose identity and worldview transform after the Dreyfus Affair, leading him to a dramatic and inspiring event. A vision of establishing a state for the Jewish people.

The opera, which was chosen as one of the world’s best operas of 2023 by Opera Now magazine, was shot in front of a live audience at the Israeli Opera House by Ellacomm after the October 7 attacks.

The opera will return to the Israeli stage in March 2025.

“The Israeli Opera is proud to present Herzl’s extraordinary story through this original opera of the highest artistic quality,” said Tali Barash Gottlieb, Executive Director of the Israeli Opera. “We are confident that its unique significance will resonate deeply with audiences around the world, especially in these challenging times, and we are grateful to Mr. Daniel Jusidman and the Jusidman Foundation for this initiative and their continued support.”