Musician

Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein and Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre in Maestro. Photo: Jason McDonald/Netflix

November 29, 2023, 6:46 am

Peeling back the curtain on Leonard Bernstein, Maestro unveils a symphony of creativity, controversy and composition. And Bradley Cooper's second foray into directing hasn't been without controversy itself. Jessica Abelsohn explores the film and the surrounding commentary.

By Jessica Abelsohn

November 28, 2023, 6:38 am

In her own words: Barbra Streisand

According to a biography written by Neal Gabler about the star, Streisand was mocked and dismissed for acting and looking “too Jewish”.

By Jessica Abelsohn

Pip Mushin and Theatrical's Andrew Gyopar.

November 10, 2023, 7:22 am

Powerful themes, terrific score and performances

“Theatrical may be a small, independent theatre company but it has a huge heart and certainly punches above its weight,”

By Jessica Abelsohn

Alexander Gavrylyuk.
Photo: Marco Borggreve

November 5, 2023, 6:50 am

Final Live at the Great to honour those lost in Israel

Gavrylyuk also explains his connection to Israel thanks to the Arthur Rubenstein International Piano Master Competition which he won in 2005. Since then, he has been to Israel almost every year to perform.

By Jessica Abelsohn

Kevin Chen performing at Carnegie Hall on October 19. Photo: Screenshot

October 30, 2023, 6:32 am

Opening Carnegie Hall performance with Hatikvah

Chen, who is Canadian, won first prize in the prestigious Arthur Rubinstein Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv earlier this year, which is geared toward young pianists.

By Ben Sales

October 27, 2023, 7:25 am

Elena Kats-Chernin’s Sarenka concerto

"I tried to represent her wisdom and her knowledge. All this information is fleeting. It just goes through you, because she's no longer there."

By Content courtesy of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

October 24, 2023, 6:57 am

Swift’s bodyguard returns to Israel

"I didn't have to come here, but I couldn't stand by while families were slaughtered and burned alive in their homes."

By AJN STAFF

October 23, 2023, 6:32 am

Learning to be socially considerate

"Coming to Our Senses is not about putting differences aside and being ignorant – instead it's about making an effort to be more socially conscious and considerate..."

By AJN STAFF

Amy Winehouse in 2004. Photo: Paul Bergen/Redferns/Getty Images

October 2, 2023, 7:07 am

Amy Winehouse’s Jewish moments and photos

...the Winehouse clan has faithfully chronicled Winehouse’s childhood and young adult years, when she attended a Jewish kindergarten, went to bat mitzvahs and enjoyed singing Jewish spiritual music in her free time.

By Mira Zylali

Members of the band Kiss, from left, Tommy Thayer, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Eric Singer. Photo: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File

October 2, 2023, 6:55 am

We were made for loving Kiss

Kiss returns to Australia next month for one final additional farewell show, exclusive to Sydney. Jessica Abelsohn explores the craziness behind the most influential rock band, including Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley's Jewish roots.

By Jessica Abelsohn

September 26, 2023, 6:55 am

Halle Berry doubles down

Two days prior to the Instagram post, Berry had slammed the Grammy-award winning artist for using the image.

By AJN STAFF

September 20, 2023, 7:04 am

Songs bring The Book of Life to life

"We take the opportunity to explore the nature of performing, a musical life, the notions of what people know and don't know about a career lived over four decades in public," Conway explained.

By AJN STAFF

The Australian cast of You Don't Have to Be Jewish.

September 18, 2023, 11:47 am

You Don’t Have to be Jewish staged in Sydney

“It portrays the mundane of life with humour. There’s not a swear word in it, it’s clean, it’s loaded with irony, it’s loaded with pathos as well. Yet it’s still hysterical.”

By Jessica Abelsohn

September 11, 2023, 6:39 am

From head to sole, and heart to soul

With a profound appreciation of the significance of family and community, her music honours these bonds while infusing her performances with a sense of shared humanity and interconnectedness.

By AJN STAFF

September 4, 2023, 7:30 am

A celebration of music through the ages

Fanshil described the concert as “a celebration of our rich musical heritage that spans from Baal Shem Tov to Broadway, from the most traditional chazanut, to stirring modern Israeli songs, all with the accompaniment of soul-quenching klezmer.

By AJN STAFF