Theodor

The Israeli Opera Chorus

Chorus Master: Itay Berckovitch

The Opera Orchestra - The Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion

Sung in Hebrew

English and Hebrew Surtitles

WORLD PREMIERE

The Israeli Opera thanks Mr. Daniel Jusidman for his initiative of writing the opera Theodor and to the Jusidman Foundation for their generous support in making this dream a reality.

Complimentary tickets to active duty soldiers in uniform – courtesy of Lizika, Ami & Teddy Sagy

Scene I

Paris 1895. Theodor Herzl, a journalist from Vienna, covers the degradation ceremony of Dreyfus, a Jewish-French officer who was found guilty of treason. The crowd calls for a death penalty.

Scene ii

The Herzl family home in Paris. Julie Herzl is frightened by the violent atmosphere in the city. Herzl tries to draft a news report of the Dreyfus affair. Unsuccessful in doing so, he leaves his house, upset, to wander the streets.

Scene iii

Vienna 1881. The young Theodor Herzl has been accepted into "Albia" - a nationalistic student fraternity. He and his friend Paul are the first Jewish members of this fraternity. They both celebrate at a beer-garden with their new friends. Even the scorn of an anti-Semitic waitress does not mar their joy.

Scene iv

The adult Herzl wanders the streets of Pigalle. A pimp persuades him to come into a teenage prostitute's room. Herzl is horrified to confront the passions he denies. He escapes the place, but is unable to return to his home.

Scene v

Vienna Opera House. The students cheer after a performance of a Wagner opera. Young Theodor envisions himself as a celebrated playwright to-be. Paul feels that he, as a Jew, would forever remain an outsider in European culture.

Scene vi

The adult Herzl enters a church. Inspired by the priest's words, and the singing of the choir, he has a revolutionary vision - he would lead all the Jews to a mass conversion into Christianity.

Scene vii

Back at home, Herzl shares his daring plan with his wife. Julie reacts with scorn and dismissal.

Scene viii

While the adult Herzl struggles with Julie's harsh words, young Theodor fights a duel with Paul - an initiation ceremony for the fraternity. Julie wins over, and Herzl succumbs to despair. Theodor defeats Paul and is filled with joy. He feels omnipotent. Herzl predicts a traumatic crash for his younger self.

Scene ix

At a memorial service after Wagner's death, Herman, the fraternity leader, gives an anti-Semitic speech. Theodor furiously wishes to retire from the fraternity. Paul betrays his friend, and proposes that henceforward, Jews will not be accepted into "Albia". Both he and Theodor are disgracefully dismissed. Paul shoots himself.

Scene x

Herzl and Theodor are desperate. In an imaginary duet between them, they look for a way out of their dead-end situation. Herzl almost loses his sanity, when a new vision dawns on him - the establishment of a Jewish state. His friends and acquaintances try in vain to dissuade him from the idea, but Herzl writes his fateful book - "The State of the Jews".

Back Stage Secrets at the Opera
Many Opportunities to Widen your Opera Experience

Do you want to know more about the opera you are about to attend? Do you want to find out some back stage secrets? Do you want to meet the artists after the performance? The Israeli Opera enables you to widen your opera experience with a variety of pre performance and post-performance events. 

Pre Performance Lecture
One hour before each opera performance there is a 30-minute introductory lecture in the auditorium (in Hebrew). Opera staffers present the opera and the production and enable the audience to get some extra information a short time before attending the performances. Admission is free for ticket holders. 

Opera Talkback
The curtain has just descended on the final scene of the opera. The hour is late. Nut the experience was riveting. This is the time to meet several of the performers. Come to listen and to speak. Ask questions. Meet the artists. A once in a lifetime opportunity to meet the artists who have just excited you on the stage. Opera Talkbacks takes place on the second level of the Opera House foyer and last around 30 minutes. Admission free. Opera Talkback takes place on several evenings in each production. Details can be found at the Israeli opera’s website.