State of the Jews

A semi-staged preview of a new opera in two acts A LABA 2nd Stage Production Presented by The Theater at the 14th Street Y Co-presented by YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, Leo Baeck Institute, American Society for Jewish Music, and Steinway & Sons Admission: $35

Please Note: This event takes place at the 14th Street Y, 344 East 14th Street

Composed by Alex Weiser
Libretto by Ben Kaplan
Directed by Mary Birnbaum
Music Direction by Lee Dionne

Featuring: Mario Diaz-Moresco, Kristin Gornstein, Alex Mansoori, Adrian Rosas, C4 and Friends; the Merz trio (Lee Dionne, Brigid Coleridge, Julia Yang), Greg Chudzik, Harriet Langley, Lauren Siess, and Yasmina Spiegelberg

Lighting Design by Kryssy Wright | Costume Design by Amy MacDonald

The opera State of the Jews is a historical drama about Theodor Herzl (1860-1904), the charismatic and controversial Austro- Hungarian Jewish journalist whose writings ignited a mass political movement. In response to rising antisemitism, Herzl pursues the establishment of a Jewish state, but these political choices come at a great personal cost, wreaking havoc on the Herzl home. The opera interweaves the political turmoil of turn of the century Europe—the rise of nationalist movements, the threat of mass violence, and the struggle for political autonomy—with the story of Theodor’s relationship with his wife Julie, and the toll that his political work took on their marriage and lives. In her stark, contrasting response to the same historical circumstances, Julie exposes the complex and, in many ways, still unresolved challenges of that political moment in time. 

Running Time: 90 minutes with intermission

About the Artists

Broad gestures, rich textures, and narrative sweep are hallmarks of the “ravishing” (The New Yorker), “compelling” (The New York Times), “shapely, melody-rich” (The Wall Street Journal) music of composer Alex Weiser. Born and raised in New York City, Weiser creates acutely cosmopolitan music combining a deeply felt historical perspective with a vibrant forward-looking creativity. Weiser has been praised for writing “insightful” music “of great poetic depth” (Feast of Music), and for having a “sophisticated ear and knack for evoking luscious textures and imaginative yet approachable harmonies” (I Care If You Listen). An energetic advocate for contemporary classical music and for the work of his peers, Weiser co-founded and directs Kettle Corn New Music, an “ever-enjoyable,” and “engaging” concert series which “creates that ideal listening environment that so many institutions aim for: relaxed, yet allowing for concentration,” (New York Times) and was for nearly five years a director of the MATA Festival, “the city’s leading showcase for vital new music by emerging composers” (The New Yorker). Weiser is now the Director of Public Programs at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research where he curates and produces programs that combine a fascination with and curiosity for historical context, with an eye toward influential Jewish contributions to the culture of today and tomorrow.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, librettist Ben Kaplan studied literature and theater at Williams College. He currently serves as Director of Education at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, where he directs programs that teach Jewish history and culture to a broad and diverse audience. These programs include the Uriel Weinreich Summer Program in Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture and the YIVO-Bard Winter Program on Ashkenazi Civilization. As a librettist, he creates historically-informed dramatic works that chronicle turning points in history lost to contemporary cultural discourse.