By Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — Tragedies often have a comic origin. This affair started out as being amusing and pleasurable, as well as uplifting, life-affirming and optimistic. It is August 25, 1917 Berlin. The premier of the operetta, The Black Forest Girl (Schwarzwaldmädel) is performed at the Komische Oper theatre. It has been a […]
(JNS) On Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. at the beautiful, lakeside Shamir Park located in Ma’ale Adumim, a growing city outside of nearby Jerusalem, the district’s newest tourist and interpretive cultural attraction, the “Tree of Life,” will be dedicated by Mayor Benny Kashriel. The public is invited to attend the ceremony and share in the
Largest-of-its-Kind ‘Tree of Life’ to be Dedicated in Ma’ale Adumim Read More »
Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
Yoni Avi Battat’s debut album, Fragments, explores his Arab-Jewish identity through nine selections. He composed the music for seven of them, delving into the Arabic melodies of his grandparent’s native Iraq for inspiration and including native instruments such as the oud (Arabic lute), qanun (chordaphone with many strings), nay (reed flute), riq (tambourine), frame drum, karakeb (large iron castenets), darbuka (goblet shaped drum) and joza (coconut shell fiddle held on knee). [Eileen Wingard]
Arab-Jewish Musician Releases CD Exploring His Heritages Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Israel, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — We Are the Tree of Life (WATTOL) founder and director, Jackie Gmach, is adept at recognizing talent and recruiting them to participate in her initiative. In Israeli-born dancer and circus performer, Tammuz Dubnov, Gmach struck gold. Dubnov is not only young, handsome and talented, but he is committed to
Bringing to Life, Through the Arts, the Victims of the Holocaust Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Holocaust, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyMost of the production was comedic, poking fun at the challenges of seniority, with no holds barred, from prescription drugs to diapers. There were romances, one unrequited, facing the problems of a demented spouse; and one with a happy ending. [Eileen Wingard]
‘Something in Preserve,’ a Musical about Seniors’ Lives, Wins Plaudits Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Travel and Food
I discovered the music of Ryan Cassata via YouTube. Ryan is a singer-songwriter and activist. Ryan sings about his life as a transgender man, issues with substance abuse, suicide and hate crimes. He began socially transitioning (living as a young man) at the age of fourteen and his activism for the trans community got him on Larry King Live at fifteen. Now 28, Ryan is also a grad student at the Pacific School of Religion working on a Master’s in Divinity and Social Transformation. I spoke with Ryan recently via Zoom. [Eric George Tauber]
Every Song a Protest: Interview with Ryan Cassata Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsComposer, conductor, pianist and teacher, Friedrich Gernsheim, (1839-1916), is little known today. Yet, during his lifetime, he was spoken of in the same breath as Brahms, Bruch and Reger. In fact, his works were published by the same publishers who published their compositions. [Eileen Wingard]
After a century, Gernsheim’s music makes a comeback Read More »
Eileen Wingard, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — As we are entering into the High Holy Days, in which music plays a major role, let’s focus on one of Israel’s most beloved musicians. Poet, songwriter, composer, and singer Naomi Shemer has streets named after her in almost twenty cities across Israel. And for good reason, as she was
The Power of Music Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
During his 50 years as a painter, Canadian American artist Philip Guston created a body of work that stands out as among the most significant and daring of the 20th century. His development as an artist involved several phases, and culminated with images notable for their dark, biting humor, distinct palette, unmistakable lexicon of objects, and concern with themes when taken together seem designed to heighten our uneasiness and have us question everything we thought we knew about painting. [Sam Ben-Meir]
‘Philip Guston Now’ at Boston Museum of Fine Art Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — “The David Labkovski Project creates a bridge from the lessons of the Holocaust to the realities of today’s world. The rise in antisemitism, bigotry, and hatred makes Holocaust education even more crucial,” shares Leora Raikin, Founder & Executive Director of the David Labkovski Project. The David Labkovski Project (DLP) uses
Students Engage With Art to Understand the Holocaust, Discrimination, and Hatred Read More »
Holocaust, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — The musical Witnesses was conceived by Jordan Beck a decade ago, after his reading of Jacob Boas’ book, We Are Witnesses: Five Diaries of Teenagers Who Died In the Holocaust. Of the five diarists quoted in the book, Beck was familiar with only one, Anne Frank. He found the
‘Witnesses’ Brings Voices of Teenage Holocaust Victims Back to Life Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Holocaust, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — What a special treat to hear the entire Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra (TICO) playing together again. Under conductor David Amos, TICO undertook an ambitious All-Beethoven program for their first full-orchestra concert after COVID forced their suspension for some two years. Prior to this concert, they have had two
After 2 Years, Full Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra Plays Together Again Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
(JNS) As spring gives way to summer, the live music scene is heating up in Jerusalem, and the first must-see concert of the season had an empowering twist. On Monday evening, June 6, international superstar Ishay Ribo played a sold out show at the Jerusalem Theater to benefit ADI Jerusalem, ensuring that the residential, rehabilitative
Ishay Ribo Elevates Disability Care With Benefit Concert for ADI Read More »
Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — I was thrilled to discover, in my mailbox last week, the long-awaited CD of music by the American composer, William Grant Still, with my sister Zina Schiff as violin soloist and my niece Avlana Eisenberg conducting the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Zina and Avlana recorded this magnificent
Inspiring Music From the ‘Dean of Afro-American Composers’ Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts