Theodor, a brilliant and stirring original Israeli opera, composed by Yonatan Cnaan with a libretto by Ido Ricklin, has been chosen by Opera Now as one of the seven best operas of 2023! In the December 2023 issue, Karyl Charna Lynn is quoted on the opera in the “Critics Choice” section of the magazine: “The World Premiere of Theodor involved you emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually with effective singing, convincing acting, taut libretto, and intuitive, haunting, music. The production, told in parallel realities, was brought to life with a kaleidoscope of sounds engulfing a wide spectrum that created a broad palette of colours and textures.”
Theodor held its world premiere in May 2023, and was received enthusiastically by critics and audiences alike. The opera is inspired by the life and work of Theodor Herzl, visionary of the State of Israel. Exploring two periods in the life of young Theodor Herzl – as a 21-year-old student in Vienna of 1881, and the more mature 35-year-old journalist, covering the Dreyfus trial in Paris in 1895.
Opera Now was launched in 1989, and provides coverage of opera worldwide, with current opera news and in-depth features on leading and emerging artists in the field, as well as past legends.
A performance of Theodor was filmed and will be released in cinemas. In the meantime, enjoy a brief scene from this terrific opera:
