Chagall on the Ceiling

If there is an opera equivalent to the Sistine Chapel, then Marc Chagall is our Michelangelo.

In 1963, the ceiling of the Paris Opera needed a new paint job. André Malraux, France's then-Minister of Culture, tapped the internationally acclaimed artist. A maelstrom of anti-Semitism erupted, including articles expressing outrage over the idea of a Russian Jew decorating a French national monument. But Chagall, who had resettled in France after escaping Nazi persecution, was unfazed.
After one year, 440 pounds of paint, and 2,400 square feet worth of brushstrokes, the ceiling was completed. At the unveiling, swirling images of kaleidoscopic angels and animals mingled with composers like Mozart, Wagner, and Mussorgsky.
"Up there in my painting," Chagall told The New York Times, "I wanted to reflect, like a mirror in a bouquet, the dreams and creations of the singers and musicians."

Los Desterrrados

Music arouses strong emotions, whether it makes you nostalgic, teary, angry, or just completely blisses you out. But sometimes a song or album is so remarkable that it doesn't just touch you—it transports you to another place and time.  The London-based Sephardic Flamenco band Los Desterrados – "The Exiles" –  is making this kind of music.

Flash back to 1999, when guitarist and oud player Daniel Jonas had an ambitious musical idea: he wanted to make 21st-century interpretations of the medieval music of the Sephardic Jews. His studies of flamenco and Ladino (a language also known as Judeo-Spanish and spoken today by 100,000-200,000 people) coincided with his search for Jewish music other than klezmer. As he uncovered this music, he assembled a crew to play them with him, and so Los Desterrados was born.
To say that their music enables time travel isn't to say that Sephardic music is a thing of the past. But Jonas and friends are doing something specific by mining medieval Sephardic songs and performing them with contemporary flair – a sound that brings together jazz, folk, soul, and flamenco influences in a spirited celebration of both the heart and the timeless relevance of these songs.

Gilbert and Sullivan Go Yiddish

There's nothing inherently Yiddish-y about Gilbert and Sullivan's body of work. But that hasn't stopped Al Grand, a retired New York City schoolteacher, from making a name for himself by penning Yiddish interpretations of the pair's renowned operas.

Though Grand isn't the first to pair Yiddish with Gilbert and Sullivan, he is the first to translate an entire opera from start to finish, and is perhaps best known for Di Yam Gazlonim—that is, The Pirates of Penzance.

In his essay "Ikh Bin Der Major General," sci-fi legend Isaac Asimov, who loved Grand's work, wrote: "It is hard to think of differences more extreme than those between the Victorian British and the Jews of any time or place in the last 2,000 years… The music of Sullivan—cheerful, bouncy, busy! It is worlds different from the bittersweet minor mode of Jewish music."

And yet, as Asimov himself would be the first to admit, Grand has managed to artfully blend the two worlds. He retains the material's giddiness while peppering his interpretations with Jewish jokes and Yiddish cultural references. As anyone who's been lucky enough to catch one of his sporadically-staged productions can attest, the combination is irresistible—and rather strange.

Efrat Gosh: The Israeli Edith Piaf

Eliciting comparisons to Edith Piaf is no small feat for a performer. And yet Israeli chanteuse Efrat Gosh is doing it time and time again.

Maybe it's the playful flirtatiousness of her performance that earns her the compliment, or the shamelessly romantic air that permeates her every refrain and high note. And her distinctively throaty croon and inventive vintage fashion sense certainly don't get in the way.

Gosh herself loves Piaf, and draws both her distinctive style and her musical sensibilities from 1940s and 50s Piaf's heyday – not to mention that of Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington. "I love this period of time," she said in a video interview with Vogue Italia. "They were kind of rough but they had a lot of glamour."

She could have been describing herself. Since being discovered as a backup singer back in 2002, the 29-year-old has made 3 albums, with music ranging from brazen to coy. Fully in character in one of the 7 videos she made for her love song "Ah ah ah ahava," Gosh paints herself with red lipstick hearts as she croons about lo-o-o-ve with joyful abandon, making you fall in love, right there, with her.

The Maccabeats Jam With Obama

In 2010 the Maccabeats became famous for their Hanukkah song "Candlelight," which was a cover of Mike Tompkins' "Dynamite," which was itself a cover of Taio Cruz's "Dynamite." After their delightful music video became a YouTube sensation, the Yeshiva University student vocal group went on tour, released albums, and were featured on TV shows like "The Today Show." This year they thought: Why did we stop at the green room? Let's take the briefing room: the White House Press Briefing Room.

Behold "Barack Obama and Jewish Celebrities Singing Candlelight by The Maccabeats" which is, well, pretty much what it says it is. This clever mash-up features President Obama and a slew of Jewish celebrities covering the hit song. It is, therefore, a cover of their own cover of a cover. It's all very meta.

While the new video may induce feelings of vertigo, it did get over 16,000 hits in its first 5 days, which makes it seem like people didn't much mind that a Hanukkah-themed song was being released either several months late, or several months early. Not that college students are known for sticking to deadlines.

The Music of Passover

Looking for Passover music -- either to get you in the mood for the holiday, songs you don't know, or just to brush up on come oldies?  Here are just a few websites where you can listen for free to the music of the holiday.

Songs and music have indeed been an integral part of human life and an indispensable part of human celebrations since times immemorable. Passover is no exception. This joyous festival that started with the miraculous escapade of the Jews from Egypt 3,000 years ago has always been celebrated with music. With Passover once again at our threshold, we bring to you an awesome collection of songs and music related to the festival. All these are free and no registration is required either. Enjoy these free Passover music from TheHolidaySpot. If you like them, which we know you surely will, click here to refer this page to your friends and loved ones. Spend a great time this Passover with our splendid collection of quality music for the occasion. "Gut Yontiff" to all of you.

You can also enjoy this YouTube Video of The Fountainheads' "Dayenu - Coming Home"

Many synagogues, including Ansche Chesed, include Passover music on their websites.

And if Reggae is your thing, check out Songs of Freedom.

American (Jewish) Idol

Do you ever catch yourself watching American Idol and wishing they would sing more psalms? Or wonder why you never hear "Adon Olam" on The Voice? Turns out, you're not alone. Four years ago, out of this void, a singing competition called A Jewish Star was born. (You didn't think they'd really call it "Jewish Idol," did you?)

The setup is familiar: A panel of judges evaluates contestants, and audience members vote online. But in this competition instead of skimpy dresses and love songs, you'll find men in suits belting out prayers, psalms, or proverbs.
Considering the recent hoopla about the religious female contestant on Israel's version of The Voice, it's no surprise that this competition, based in New York, is limited to men. And though we do miss hearing from the ladies, these guys have serious musical chops. The 2013 competition is just getting started—Round 2 is this Sunday, March 3rd. You can watch each entrant's videos and vote for your favorite here.

Just don't be disappointed when the judges pale in comparison to Paula Abdul on American Idol (even if she is Jewish).