Jewish museum to launch ‘Vinyl’ exhibit

To kick off the opening of its new exhibit, “Jews on Vinyl,” the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco will host a gallery talk Feb. 5 from 7 to 10 p.m.

Josh Kun and Roger Bennett, guest curators and authors of the book “And You Shall Know Us By the Trail of Our Vinyl,” will lecture on the Jewish-American experience as filtered through music and album covers.

On display through June 9, the exhibit features a retro living room set, vintage Jewish album covers and an audio soundtrack of notable Jewish music from the 1940s to ‘80s.

Admission to the opening night event is $5 per ticket, which includes museum admission, or free for members. For more information, call (415) 655-7800 or visit www.thecjm.org.

Three-day seminar on Italy’s Jewish ghettos

As part of its current exhibit “Il Ghetto: Forging Italian Jewish Identities,” the Museo ItaloAmericano will explore the lives of Jews in Venice, Italy, from 1516 to 1870 in a three-day symposium.

“Italian Jewish Culture in the Age of the Ghetto” will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at the Museo ItaloAmericano at S.F.’s Fort Mason Center, and 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at U.C. Santa Cruz. The symposium will feature an array of international scholars lecturing on Jewish life during the Italian Renaissance. The gathering is presented by the Diller Family Jewish Studies program at U.C. Santa Cruz, with support from the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco and the Venice Center for International Jewish Studies, among others.

The symposium kicks off 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 at the Museo with a concert of Baroque music by Renaissance Italian Jewish composer Salamone Rossi. For information and to make reservations, call (415) 673-2200 or go to www.museoitaloamericano.org.

Israeli cellist will play in Oakland, S.F.

Israeli-born cellist Maya Beiser will give the world premiere performance of Nolan Gasser’s World Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in two concerts with the Oakland East Bay Symphony, conducted by Michal Morgan. Also featured on the program are Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” and Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 3.

The first concert will be held 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 at the Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. The program will be repeated at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 50 Oak St., S.F. The latter show is a benefit for the Oakland East Bay Symphony’s education programs.

Tickets for the Jan. 23 concert are $20-$65. Tickets to the Jan. 24 benefit are $125 and include a post-concert champagne and dessert reception. For information, call (510) 635-8497 or visit www.oebs.org.

Rick Recht concert on tap in Berkeley

Jewish guitarist and vocalist Rick Recht will perform a family-friendly concert at Congregation Netivot Shalom from 4 to 6 p.m. Feb. 1. Recht plays Jewish music with an emphasis on positive values.

The concert also will include a singing performance by Rabbi Menachem Creditor as Recht’s opening act.

Congregation Netivot Shalom is located at 1316 University Ave., Berkeley. Tickets are $6 to $10 and can be purchased through www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, call (510) 549-9447.

‘Music Man’ is coming to South Bay

The Addison-Penzak JCC of Silicon Valley is bringing “The Music Man” to Campbell.

In its third multigenerational production, the Los Gatos-based JCC presents the well-known Meredith Wilson play that follows fast-talking salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of a small Iowa town.

Curtain time is 8 p.m. Jan. 31 and Feb 7, and 1 pm. Feb. 1 and 8 at the Heritage Theatre, 1 W. Campbell Ave. Tickets are $18 to $54. For tickets, go to www.heritagetheatre.org.

Israeli singer Noa to perform at Eurovision

Internationally known Israeli singer Noa and an Israeli Arab singer will represent Israel at the Eurovision song contest.

Noa, whose legal name is Achinoam Nini, will appear in the popular competition alongside Israeli Arab Mira Awad. The contest will be held this spring in Moscow.

In a letter e-mailed to supporters, Noa wrote, “I had been offered this position in the past and refused. This year I agreed, with the goal of using this huge media platform as a means to convey a message of peace in these difficult times, together with my friend Mira. We will write and perform the song together, in Hebrew, Arabic and English.” — jta