Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Song Meaning Of NYE Tune ‘Auld Lang Syne’

Aside from lots of booze and cute appetizers, there’s something very familiar about New Year’s Eve: “Auld Lang Syne.” While the famous song is almost always played at the stroke of midnight, not everyone knows what it means– and they certainly don’t know the words to it. In “Harry Meets Sally,” Billy Crystal’s character Harry […]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

“Cinderella” opera written by 11-year-old Briton takes Vienna by storm

She is only 11 but already words like “genius” are being used to describe the musical talents of London schoolgirl Alma Deutscher, who has just wowed the crowd in Vienna with the world-premiere of her self-penned opera “Cinderella”. She played violin and piano during the performance and was rewarded with a standing ovation. It is

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

‘A Man and a Woman’ singer Pierre Barouh dies aged 82

French songwriter, composer and singer Pierre Barouh, who penned and sang the international hit “A Man And A Woman” from the eponymous 1966 film, died Wednesday aged 82, his wife … Barouh, who had been in hospital for five days, died following a heart attack, Atsuko Ushioda told reporters. Raised in the western Paris suburbs

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Picasso sketch of ex-Jerusalem mayor narrowly avoids trash

Previously unknown doodle of Teddy Kollek, who founded the Israel Museum, found in catalog of Spanish artist’s 1965 exhibit By Ilan Ben Zion Newly discovered Picasso sketch bearing a likeness of former mayor Teddy Kollek, December 2016 (Courtesy) A new Picasso was discovered this month in Jerusalem, a likeness of former mayor Teddy Kollek doodled

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Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Jewish trivia quiz: Jewish Christmas songs

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — It’s often said that Christmas music far surpasses the quality of Chanukkah music, thanks to the many Jewish composers who wrote such beautiful songs as White Christmas (Irving Berlin), The Christmas Song/Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (Mel Tormé and Robert Wells), and I’ll Be Home For

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Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Who’s Performing at Trump’s Inauguration?

Donald Trump’s inauguration performance roster is shaping up to be even less impressive than his list of celebrity guests for the Republican National Convention. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir announced Thursday that it had accepted an invitation from the U.S. Presidential Inauguration Committee to sing at the swearing in ceremony for President-elect Donald Trump and his

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

James Taylor cancels Manila concert, protesting Philippine president’s war on drugs

MANILA — American singer-songwriter James Taylor canceled an upcoming concert in Manila to protest Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, a campaign of extrajudicial slaughter that has claimed more than 6,000 lives. Taylor, a Grammy winner known for songs including “Fire and Rain” and “You’ve Got a Friend,” canceled the show — part of

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Cross border cooperation for music, dance and the arts

By Mimi Pollack Makeda[/caption]SAN DIEGO –Makeda “Dread” Cheatom believes the world would be a better place if people took the time to learn about and respect other cultures. She believes there would be less prejudice and a greater understanding among people. Learning about different cultures and promoting unity in diversity have been lifelong passions for

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International, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

President Obama Signs Law to Aid Recovery of Nazi-Looted Art

Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder Praises Obama and Congress for Delivering Overdue Justice to Holocaust Victims and Their Families WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — On Friday evening, President Barack Obama signed the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act into law. The new law ends an era where victims of the Nazis and their descendants were

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Thoughts on Chagall’s ‘White Crucifixion’

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –This past Shabbat at Temple Beth Shalom we had a most remarkable discussion on the famous Russian painter, Marc Chagall, as we discussed his various paintings of Jesus’s crucifixion. A panel consisting of Dr. David Strom, Dr. Tzvi Sax, and myself explored the history of several of

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Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Fans of this famed singer are threatening to boycott him should he perform at Trump’s inauguration

Andrea Bocelli is rumored to sing at Donald Trump’s inauguration next month, and not all of his fans are happy about it. Though Bocelli has neither confirmed nor denied the reports that he will perform a duet with “America’s Got Talent” singer Jackie Evancho at the event, some of his fans have started a “Boycott

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Verdict upheld for elderly French couple who hid Picasso works in garage

A French court on Friday upheld the two-year suspended sentences of Pablo Picasso’s former electrician and his wife, who kept 271 of his artworks stashed in their garage for almost 40 years. Pierre Le Guennec and his wife Danielle were convicted last year of possessing stolen goods and for hiding the works from Picasso’s heirs.

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

In praise of Mona Golabek, author and performer

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Several years ago I read The Pianist of Willesden Lane written by Mona Golabek about the experiences of her mother, Lisa Jura, first in Vienna and then in London. She had been sent there at the age of fourteen in the framework of the Kindertransport, the undertaking that

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts