Since its 1964 Broadway debut, Fiddler on the Roof has captivated audiences with its engaging story, instant classic tunes, and identifiable characters. Dr. Stein will examine this timeless musical’s well-known songs, addressing how particularly Jewish themes and melodies have had such a universal appeal for both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences. Her presentation will look at the legacy of Tevye through the performances of Zero Mostel on the stage and Topol in the 1971 film, and she will share some of songwriting duo Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock’s development of the music through draft lyrics and cut songs. You don’t need to have attended the Lyric Opera’s recent production to enjoy this class!
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Musicologist AMANDA RUPPENTHAL STEIN, Ph.D. is a lecturer in music at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin and at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is a 2021 graduate of the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, where she was also the Crown Graduate Fellow for the Crown Center for Jewish and Israel Studies. Amanda’s dissertation, Sounding Judentum: Assimilation, Art Music, and Being Jewish Musically in 19th Century German-Speaking Europe focused on how art musicians approached Jewish identity, assimilation, and acculturation through sonic expression, relationships, and writing. Additional teaching and research interests include Jewish voice in the music of Leonard Bernstein, the comedy albums of Allan Sherman, and cross-cultural conversations on religious and racial identities.
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