Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

‘Intersections’ Showcases the Diverse Talents of Klezmer Musician Yale Strom

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — “Intersections” is the name of a new 12-part series curated and hosted by the multitalented Yale Strom. Each month this year, Strom will introduce a diverse array of artists for programs at UCSD’s Park & Market, a new venue at 1100 Market Street in San Diego. The programs, […]

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Composer Behind Songs in ‘Wild Kratts,’ ‘PJ Masks,’ and Other Iconic Children’s TV Shows Brings New Musical to San Diego

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — The co-creator of the songs for some of the most popular children’s shows on television is bringing a new musical to San Diego. Actually, it’s a musical about putting on a musical. Ensemble: The Musical — which will be performed live for the first time at the Tenth

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Jacob Kamaras, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Appreciation: Burt Bacharach Was a Music Legend Who Spoke Out

Published by The San Diego Union-Tribune As one of the greatest and most innovative songwriters in pop-music history, Burt Bacharach inspired several generations of fans and fellow musicians alike. Beyond the great art he created, two of my fondest memories of Bacharach — who died Wednesday of natural causes at the age of 94 —

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Light and Obliquity: Edward Hopper at the Whitney Museum

By Sam Ben-Meir NEW YORK — Clement Greenberg once observed that Edward Hopper was a “bad painter. But if he were a better painter, he would, most likely, not be so superior an artist.” “Edward Hopper’s New York,” a major retrospective currently on view at the Whitney Museum, confirms this judgment. There is occasionally a

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir, USA

JCC Program to Spotlight Exotic Ladino Melodies

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — The exotic melodies and improvisatory style of Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) songs evoke the colorful bougainvillea and balmy nights of Spain, even though much of that music was composed by the Sephardic Jews after their expulsion. They were driven out of Spain in 1492, then from Portugal five years later.

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Israel’s Lahav Shani Named New Conductor of Munich Philharmonic

Published by DPA The Munich Philharmonic Orchestra gave a rapturous welcome on Wednesday to the appointment of Israeli musician Lahav Shani as its new chief conductor in the 2026-27 season. After a year’s deliberation, the council of the Bavarian capital backed the 34-year-old in the role, initially for five years. Shani, who despite his young

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Ukrainian Pianist Romanenko Delights at Impromptu Recital

Pianist Iegor Romanenko from Kharkiv, Ukraine, sat down to give an impromptu recital last Sunday afternoon at the home of Solana Salons’ hostess, Monique Kunewalder. Although arranged just days before, Romanenko’s performance drew fifty guests to listen to this talented refugee musician. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

‘Ain’t Too Proud’ Production a Temptation for Music Lovers

Playing through January 8, this show will have you clapping and singing along whether you want to or not.  Against the backdrop of chart-topping hits like For Once In My Life; Since I lost My Baby; My Girl; The Way You Do The Things You Do, and of course the title song Ain’t Too Proud To Beg, the story of the Temptations’ rise to fame and the cost to their personal lives is narrated by the last surviving original member, Otis Williams, played by Michael Andreas.  [Sandi Masori]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sandi Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Yiddish Songs to Kick Off New Musical Series at Lawrence Family JCC

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — A new series of Treasures from the Music Collection of the Astor Judaica Library will be launched on Thursday, January 5, 2 p.m. in the library of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center. Register here. The three-part series will feature songs of our people, opening with Yiddish Songs.

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Program Fuses New and Old Music, Creativity, Meaningful Connection to Chanukah

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — The Litvak Dancers’ LIGHT and Yale Strom’s Broken Consort program served as a memorable opening for the eight nights of Chanukah. Performed on the first night of the holiday for an appreciative audience in the Lawrence Family JCC’s Garfield Auditorium, the two-part program was presented by the Center

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

A Brazilian-born San Diegan’s Chanukah Song

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — Brazilian-born singer Carla Berg’s original Chanukah song, “Nes” (Miracle), with lyrics in Ladino, is available as a video clip on YouTube and on other digital platforms. It was produced by Allan Phillips at APMStudio in San Diego and was released last year. It is a welcome addition to

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Everyone Knows ‘Ma’oz Tzur,’ Except They Don’t

By Sarah Ogince (JNS) The lights are kindled, the shamash is returned to its place and the family breaks into song: It is a rousing, march-like melody that is the aural equivalent of the menorah’s light—energy, joy and hope in the depth of winter, a promise of rebirth. It’s a familiar, comforting scene, repeated in

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Postwar Encounters with the Holocaust

My friend Susan Ferraro, who lives in a rural part of Northern California. tells me that since about the age of 7, she had fantasized about becoming a Jew. It started, she said, when she read Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl. As children often do, she imagined herself invulnerable; death being something that unfortunately happened to other people. If she had been born Jewish, and living at that time, she could have prevented those Nazis from hurting Anne and her family and those hidden with them in the secret annex. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts