The Dybbuk - an Opera in Yiddish - דוקורייטינגדוקורייטינג

One of the most original and interesting projects this year. Opera Magazine, U.K

A remarkable operatic performance. Jewish Forward, N.Y

They were singing with their own voices, until The Dybbuk possessed their souls

World premiere I Live recording I Israel, 1999 I 71 min

Watch full opera (English subtitles)

Watch full opera (Hebrew subtitles)

By Solomon Epstein

Director-producer: Rachel Michaeli
Conductor: Ronen Borshevsky
Piano: Irit Rub Levy
Featuring:
Lea: Camilla Griehsel
Hanan: Yossi Aridan
Freida: Bracha Kol
Reb Azriel: David Sebba
Hanokh: Avi Yasinovski
Sender, prologue: Morry Gross
Corepetiteur: Ethan Schmeisser
Yiddish coaching: Hadassa Ben Haim
Aremelite: Dorit Talmi, Michael Ein-Gal, Smmy Fugler, Oded Gaon, Eyal Harel, Hezi Shohat
Light: Afif Adries
Costume design: Dvori Topaz
Trailer: Aliceline Studio
Poster: Tomato, U.K

Supported by Ben Gurion University and The Lerner Yiddish Fund

An elusive voice game with a demon: Camilla Griehsel in The Dybbuk, an opera in Yiddish

A Jewish tale of exorcism, love and passion between the dead and the living.

The opera the Dybbuk by the American composer Solomon Epstein is based on S. An-Sky’s 1920 Yiddish play, which has become a legend in Jewish culture. The opera was world premiered in 1999, Israel, and is apparently the world’s first original Yiddish opera.

Story: In a small Jewish town where the souls of both the living and the dead transcend their respective realms, Leah falls in love with Hanan. Soon after Hanan, a kabbalah student, is overcome by powers beyond his control and dies, his spirit has taken control of her in the form of a demon, a dybbuk, and refuses to leave. An especially riveting moment occurs when Leah, the soprano, is singing, but Hanan’s tenor voice is heard, and an elusive vocal exchange begins.

Music: This is a contemporary opera which reflects the music of the period when the play was written. In addition to Debussy’s and Bartok’s spirit, The Dybbuk of Solomon Epstein leaves space for the Jewish musical tradition. The production is an abridged version in 3 acts Italian book by Aloma Bardi, "Esotismi musicali del Dibbuk" (2014) dedicated a full chapter to the opera, and appears on the front cover. University of Naples.

Press:

The opera The Dybbuk is highly significant in our culture arena…The love duet between the dead bridegroom and Leah standing on either side of a translucent mirror, is haunting. HaEer weekend Magazine, Israel

One of the most original and interesting projects this year. Opera Magazine, U.K 1999

A remarkable operatic performance. Jewish Forward, N.Y

First opera in Yiddish ever made, was premiered in Beer-Sheba. Israel Radio News, 30.4.1999

Dybbuk forsta operan pa Jiddisch. Metro Magazine, Sweden

Yiddish opera opens to applause in Israel. Times-Picayune, L.A

A standing room crowd from around Israel flocked to the performance of The Dybbuk. Those who couldn’t find seats perched on steps in the aisles. Jewish Chronicle weekend magazine, London

Growing acceptance of Yiddish shown in Opera. Times Hammond, IN

First Yiddish opera revives near-dead language in Israel. Bangor Daily News

Opera excites Yiddish speakers. News and Record, N.C

Original opera aids in revival of Yiddish. Record, N.J

Sing out: New opera reignites interest in Yiddish. Winston-Salem Journal

Yiddish revived in Israel by opera. Times – Bucks County Courier, PA

Yiddish opera premieres in Israel. Register Guard, OR