Israeli Herzl opera ‘Theodor’ to premiere filmed version in NY
Story of founder of modern Zionism chosen as among best operas of 2023
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
The Israeli Opera is premiering the filmed version of its original opera, “Theodor: The Unknown Story of Herzl” on September 23 in New York, accompanied by live performances from the opera’s starring soloists.
The US premiere will take place at the Temple Emanuel – Streicker Cultural Center in New York, in Hebrew with English subtitles, and with live performances by composer Yonatan Cnaan and original cast members Oded Reich (Herzl), Noam Heinz (Theodor) and Anat Czarny (Julie).
“I feel fortunate and excited to bring ‘Theodor’ to New York, especially at this pivotal moment in the history of the Jewish state and world Jewry,” said Cnaan. “Sharing Herzl’s vision and values through my music feels more urgent than ever.”
The opera, which took three years to write, focuses on the vision, life and personal conflicts surrounding Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism.
Composer Cnaan and librettist and director Ido Ricklin create two parallel realities, with Theodor the student (Noam Heinz) developing his Jewish spirit while his older self (Oded Reich) — Herzl of the long, black beard — realizes what needs to be done and writes his seminal work, “The State of the Jews.”
The opera premiered in May 2023 for a first, limited run at Tel Aviv’s Israeli Opera House. At the time, the opera seemed to dive directly to the heart of the government’s proposed judicial overhaul and the protests against it, as Israel marked its 75th year.
The opera was chosen by Opera Now magazine as one of the world’s best operas for 2023, and was then filmed by Ellacomm in front of a live audience at the Israeli Opera House after the October 7 Hamas attack.
The opera will return to the Israeli stage in March 2025, while the filmed production will be available for private screening events around the world.
