“The Great Dictionary of the Yiddish Language” is set to make its world premiere on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2025 at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in New York City.

The Alex Weiser and Ben Kaplan piece will be presented in collaboration with American Opera Projects, the League for Yiddish, and the American Society for Jewish Music, and it tells a tragic-comic story of Yiddish linguist Yudel Mark as he makes an attempt to create a Yiddish dictionary.

The opera has a run-time of 50 minutes and will be directed by Rebecca Miller Kratzer. It stars tenor Jason Weisinger, baritone Gideon Dabi, and mezzo-sopranos Kristin Gornstein, Kate Maroney, and Kelly Guerra. David Bloom will conduct an ensemble that features a clarinet, string quartet, and piano.

The opera was workshopped last year at Bang on a Can.

There will be another performance set for Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025.

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