Itsche Heystir

Chamber Opera

The opera depicts a contemporary existential situation characterized by alienation and difficulty forming mutual connections. In this case, each of the characters in the opera aspires to eternalize his or her existence by producing a child. The work "Itsche Heystir" is based on a Yiddish libretto and original music, both by the composer Daniel Galay. Four artists take part in the performance: an actor, a mezzo-soprano singer, a pianist, and a percussionist. The actor, Itsche Heystir, carries most of the text. The singer, Adela, sings mainly a vocalise. The pianist plays the part of Zigmunt, the third member of the emergent love triangle, and the percussionist represents a witness who observes that which occurs on stage. The work copes with the issue of transmitting a text to an audience in the clearest and most direct way. Here the role of the actor is crucial. The libretto exists in a Yiddish original as well as in Hebrew and German translation, and can be easily translated into other languages because it is based entirely on a rhythmic line and not on a melodic line. The libretto was published in the journal Naye Vegn vol. 9 (2001).

Scene 1

The forbidden relationship between Itsche Heystir, the head of the household and his sister Adela, a make-up artist, forces the pair to find an outside partner to bring a child into the world. The candidates who are found unfit for the task disappear mysteriously.

Scene 2

Zigmunt the pianist enters the picture as he undergoes a trial period with Itsche and Adela.

Scene 3

The trial period comes to a climax during a group trip to the Luna Park Ferris wheel. The strong attraction between Adela and Zigmunt is revealed, while Itsche already appears to be not at his best.

Scene 4

An agreement is reached between the parties, according to which Zigmunt the pianist will partner with Adela to bring her a child.

Scene 5

Adela gives birth to two children. She is torn between Zigmunt, the father of her children, and Itsche, her brother. She is unable to deal with the situation and escapes.

Scene 6

The tension between Zigmunt and Itsche reaches its peak and a violent struggle breaks out between the two. Zigmunt gains the upper hand. Slowly Itsche becomes weak and is pushed into a corner.

Scene 7

Itsche begins the inevitable decline which will lead to his demise.

Scene 8

Zigmunt becomes cruel to his rival, Itsche, and lets him know that any connection between him and the children is forbidden. He demands to be given sums of money that he had given to Itsche in the past and even asks for the feather duster that symbolizes the control exercised by the head of the household over his space.

Scene 9

Adela and Zigmunt go off together on their new path, accompanied by the memory of Itsche.

Tal Shachar - Director

Tal began her musical career as a classical singer in Thelma- Yalin. She completed her B.A Summa cum laude in Musicology and Philosophy at Tel- Aviv University and received a full scholarship to do her M.M in Opera Directing at Florida State University. For the Florida State Opera she directed "Il Prigioniero" by Dallapiccola and "Cendrillon" by Massenet. Following graduation she moved to New- York and established an alternative opera group named "Opera Gaya" with the group she produced and directed the operas: "The Telephone" "Seven Deadly Sins" "Arianne" by Martinu and "The Emperor of Atlantis" by Ullmann. The past year Tal directed "Acis and Galatea" by Handel and "Chayim Ben- Chaya" by Galay for a festival in Dresden.

Dori Engel - Actor

Dori Engel graduated with distinction from the Tel Aviv University, Theater Department, 2004.In 2002 he recieved scholarships from the Sharett and Davidov foundations. Dori is currently plays in Malenki theater in the play About the Crime, in the main role (Raskolnikov), in Yiddishpiel theater in Children of the Shadows, in the main role (Yoram) and in Ruth Kanner ensemble in No Lost Landscapes. Dori played in Haifa Theater in Robin Hood, Hasimta theater - the Janitors, Tmuna theater - Forgotten, Zigota dance-theater ensemble - the Chest, Yiddishpiel theater - Yoshke Muzikant (in the main role - Yoshke), Gebirtig, Why Did the Bride Laugh? and The Magician of Lublin.

Ayala Zimbler - Mezzo Soprano

Was born in Israel. She graduated from the Buchman Mehta School of Music at the Tel Aviv University where she studied with Mira Zakai. During her studies she performed the roles Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflote (Mozart), Hansel and the Witch in Hansel und Gretel (Humperdinck), Cornelia in Guglio Cesare in Egitto (Handel) as well as roles in the operas Der Zwerg (Zemlinsky), The Crucible (Ward), La Cenerentola (Rossini) and Don Pasquale (Donizetti). She also appeared in recitals and concerts throughout Israel in varied repertoire including the Mozart Requiem, cantatas by Bach, St. Cecilia Mass (Gounod), Elijah (Mendelssohn) and other works. She performed as soloist with several local orchestras including the Raanana Symphonette Orchestra. She has been a recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, the Buchman-Heiman Foundation and the IVAI scholarships. Ayala Zimbler is a member of the Israeli Opera's Opera Studio.

Yonatan Cohen - Pianist

Studied with Ms. Michal Bar-Kama, Mr. Amir Fedrovitz and Prof. Alexander Volkov. Graduated first degree with Prof. Emanuel Krasovsky. Currently studying for his second degree at the School of Music in Tel-Aviv University. Participated in Festivals in Israel and New York. Often performs chamber music and contemporary music. Played at prestigious concert halls in Israel and recorded for Israeli classical radio and TV. Played solo with Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Israeli Conservatory, Tel Aviv. Prize winner of The Young Artist Competition organized by Kol Hamusica and the Tel-Aviv Conservatory Competition.

Omri Rachum-Twaig - Marimba and Percussion

Omri Rachum-Twaig was born in Tel-Aviv, 1988. Omri Graduated "Alon" High School of Science and Arts in excellence and studies in The Buchmann-Mehta School of Music in the Tel Aviv University for the third year under the guidance of Mr. Alon Bor. He is a member of the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music Symphony Orchestra and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra of Daniel Barenboim as well as an extra player in the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. Omri performed under the battalion of Maestro Mehta, Barenboim, Abbado, Dudamel, Boulez and others. Omri performed with the Buchmann-Mehta Symphony Orchestra at the 3rd annual Holocaust Commemoration Day of the U.N. conducted by Maestro Zubin Mehta. Omri is Performing in solo recitals as well as a part of a Percussion Duo and takes an active part at the Israeli Jazz

Polina Adamov - Stage, Costumes and Graphic designer.

Graduated high institute for graphic design at Moscow. At 2001 immigrated to Israel. Worked as graphic designer at "GESHER" theater, a candidate for the Israeli theater prize at 2007 for stage design the play "This is the big sea" at the Kameri theater, worked as designer for different theaters (Habima, Tzavta, Fringe Opera, Tmuna, Hasimta, Israeli-Arabic theater etc.) Member of the Malinki Theater since 2002

Julia Zilbergoltz – Video Photographer

Immigrated to Israel from Russia in 2006. Has a Bachelor Degree in Law. Studied course for professional movies editor at MOSFILM studios, later worked there. For three years worked for television and cinema. Afterward moved to Stills photography. Among other things, specializes in photographic studio.