Music
Classical music in Israel has been vibrant since the 1930s when hundreds of music teachers and students, composers, instrumentalists and singers, as well as thousands of music lovers, streamed into the country, driven by the threat of Nazism in Europe. The founding of The Palestine Philharmonic Orchestra (today the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra) 1936, marked the beginning of Israel’s classical music scene. In the early 1980s, the New Israeli Opera began staging productions, reviving public enthusiasm for operatic works. The Russian immigration in the 1990s boosted the classical music arena both with new talents and music lovers. The contemporary music scene in Israel is hugely varied, dynamic and eclectic. It spans across all spectrums of musical genres and often fuses many musicals influences ranging from Ethiopian, Middle-Eastern soul, rock, jazz, hip-hop, electronic, Arabic, pop and mainstream.
The Israeli Opera
The Israeli Opera is one of the focal points of Israeli culture – a youthful, vibrant international company committed to presenting opera as a dramatic theatrical art form. Israeli Opera casts feature, young alongside established international and Israeli opera singers, supported by world-class production teams. All Israeli Opera productions are sung in the original language, accompanied by Hebrew and English subtitles and presented at the Opera House in Tel Aviv. An average of eight productions each season are staged as well as community productions and outdoor opera productions. The Israeli Opera produce an annual Opera Festival that takes place at Masada, Jerusalem and The Dead Sea, and attracts Opera fans from all around the world. (Photo by Yossi Tzveker)
Visit The Israeli Opera’s website
Mann Auditorium (Hey-chal Ha-tar-but)
On October 1st, 1957, officials of the city of Tel Aviv and the State of Israel formally opened the Frederic R. Mann Auditorium. Its chief benefactor was Frederic R. Mann of Philadelphia (1903-1987). The Mann Auditorium is justly considered one of the most sophisticated cultural facilities in the world. The hall, which was built primarily as a home for the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, is notable for its size and flexibility. Since its establishment, many top musicians have played on its stage including Leonard Bernstein, Izhak Perlman, Yehudi Menuhin, Daniel Barenboim, Isaac Stern, and Arthur Rubinstein, as have many renowned orchestras from all over the world: the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra, and more. In addition to musical performances, the Mann Auditorium frequently hosts national and international conferences and assemblies.
Visit Mann Auditorium’s website
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1936 by Bronislaw Huberman and its inaugural concert, on 26 December 1936, was conducted by Arturo Toscanini. The IPO plays in subscription series, including a special annotated Youth Concert Series, special concerts, concerts as part of the “Arts for the People” project throughout Israel, and special concerts for IDF soldiers at their outposts. The IPO annually tours the world’s cultural centers and its prestigious festivals. Israel’s creative artists are promoted by many IPO premieres of works by Israeli composers. The orchestra has hosted most of the world’s greatest conductors and soloists, and it also does much to develop Israeli artists and young talents from Israel and abroad. In 1968 Maestro Zubin Mehta was appointed Music Advisor to the IPO and in 1977 he became its Music Director. Leonard Bernstein was named IPO Laureate Conductor in 1988, in 1992 Kurt Masur was appointed Honorary Guest Conductor and since the 2001-02 season Yoel Levi has been Principal Guest Conductor of the IPO.
Visit The Israel Philharmonic’s website
The Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion (ISO)
The Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion was founded in 1988 by the Rishon LeZion mayor Meir Nitzan and municipality, and since 1989 the ISO has also served with great success as the resident orchestra of the Israeli Opera. The ISO conductors were Shimon Cohen, Noam Sheriff, Asher Fisch and Mendi Rodan. The current Musical Director and chief conductor is Dan Ettinger (who also serves as assistant to Daniel Barenboim in Berlin) and, since 1999 Ehud Gross has been the Director General. Within a short period of time, the ISO found itself at the top of the artistic pyramid amidst the leading and innovative musical institutes in Israel. Of the variety of musical cultures, the musicians represent, ISO has created a “personal” sound, which is warmly accepted by audiences and music critics alike. The ISO offers its audience a variety of symphonic works, vocal works and operas from all the musical eras.
The Israel Chamber Orchestra (ICO)
The Israel Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1965 by Gary Bertini who served as its Artistic Director and conductor for 10 years. The ICO’s repertoire ranges from early baroque to contemporary music. The Orchestra pays utmost importance to attracting the young generation. Its “Family Series” have been enthusiastically acclaimed by young audiences and professional music critics alike. The ICO tours extensively in Europe, USA, Canada, South America and the Far East and takes part in prestigious international music festivals such as the Salzburg Festival, festivals in Istanbul, Helsinki, Athens, Pompeii, Sofia and Mitte Europa, Hong Kong and many more.
The Israel Netanya Kibbutz Orchestra
Since its establishment in 1970, The Israel Netanya Kibbutz Orchestra, (IKO) has been regarded as an excellent and unique musical institution, and one of the shapers of the Israeli cultural landscape. It performs 120 concerts every season, presenting imaginative, up-to-date and refreshing artistic programs. Its original and experiential approach – classical pieces alongside folklore and jazz, and combinations of different styles, artistic, vocal and visual – makes its uniqueness.
The Haifa Symphony Orchestra
The Haifa Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1950 and in recent years has become the focal point of musical life in Haifa and the north of Israel. World Acclaimed Maestro Noam Sheriff is the music director of the HSO. The Orchestra has recently expanded its activities throughout the country, offers its audience six programs: The Classical Series, The Vocal Series, Haifa Proms, Friday Morning Classics, The Children’s Series & The Chamber Music Series. In addition, the orchestra also offers annual opera productions for the benefit of our northern audience.
Visit The Haifa Symphony Orchestra’s website
Confederation House
Given its nature as a society comprised of Jewish immigrants from all around the world, as well as a multitude of non-Jewish ethnic and religious groups both recently arrived and long resident in the land, Israel is home to a great host of musical traditions. The Confederation House brings performers from all over the world to demonstrate their native music to Israeli audiences, and it organizes events and festivals featuring local instruments. Confederation House is active in the fields of music, poetry and theater.
Visit Confederation House’s website
Tararam Group
Tararam has successfully made its way into the heart of Israeli culture by offering audiences an exciting and inspiring theatrical / musical/ dance experience. Spreading their energy, the artists communicate with the audience through the international language of rhythm by producing extraordinary sounds from ordinary everyday objects such as tin cans, metal and plastic barrels, wooden chairs, spoons, drums, and various percussion instruments.
Tararam’s Youtube channel
Visit Tararam Group’s website
LOGON
LOGON is a non-profit organization comprising an enthusiastic group of amateur singers and actors bent on producing a performance equal to that of professional companies. Since 1981, the groups have preformed short and full-length operettas as well as other musicals productions. Although the original group’s members are from Anglo-Saxon countries, the group now includes many native Israelis. Rehearsals alternate between English and Hebrew but all performances are in English.
The Ethnic Ensemble
The five members of the Ethnic Ensemble come from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds and reflect the varied musical styles of Israel. The music performed by the ensemble relies on Eastern European, Balkan and Gypsy traditions. Naturally, it combines materials from the countries of origin of the five musicians; the Sephardic traditional music, Mediterranean influences, the music of Yemenite Jews and some original music as well.
The Ethnic Ensemble’s Youtube channel
Visit The Ethnic Ensemble’s website
The Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition
The Competition came into being in 1974 at the initiative of Jan Jacob Bistritzky, whose aim was to unite the name and the artistic legacy of Arthur Rubinstein with the cultural life of Israel. The Maestro was honored to give his name to the Competition. Conceived in the spirit of the Maestro, the Competition is committed to attaining standards of the highest order and is a valid international forum for presenting talented, aspiring young pianists and fostering their artistic careers. In determining the highly demanding criteria for this stimulating musical confrontation, the organizers were inspired by Arthur Rubinstein’s personal approach to the art of the piano. From the start, these contests were recognized as having added significantly to the development of Israel’s cultural life and also received worldwide acclaim as an important musical manifestation at the international level.
Visit The competition’s website
Red Sea Jazz Festival
The Red Sea Jazz Festival (RSJF), In Eilat Harbor, established in 1987 as a four day international jazz festival with 9 concerts per evening, 6 clinics with guest artists and nightly Jam sessions. The festival is held unnualy during the last week of August. RSJF strives to introduce the broadest possible musical spectrum to the public, ranging from New Orleans jazz to the contemporary, including Latin and World music. The festival presents guest groups from all around the globe together with top Israeli groups. RSJF is also active in the jazz education field in Israel, promoting original jazz compositions and youth jazz bands.
The Israel Festival
The Israel Festival is a multidisciplinary arts festival held for a few weeks every spring in Israel. Its current center is Jerusalem. The festival was founded in 1961 by Aaron Zvi Propes as a summer music festival taking place in the ancient Roman theatre in Caesarea. The programme was later extended to include many performing arts – classical music, ballet, jazz, theater, visual arts and lectures, and the location was enlarged to include venues all over the country. Since 1982, the country’s capital decided to adopt the Festival as its own. Throughout the festival, audiences are able to enjoy performances by artists from all over the world, as well as premieres of Israeli works and tributes to leading Israeli artists. The public can also attend a large selection of free performances, including street theatre, children’s shows and a nightly jazz club.
Visit The Israel Festival’s website
The Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival
The Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival is an annual two weeks event, presenting a series of concerts performed by leading Israelis and international artists. The concerts are held in YMCA concert hall in Jerusalem.
Tel Aviv Jazz Festival
The Tel Aviv Jazz Festival is one of the most important jazz events in Israel. The Festival has garnered a prestigious reputation in Israel and abroad, as a magnet for stellar jazz performers and a home for special projects. The Festival hosts internationally known jazz musicians, playing side-by-side with Israeli musicians, in original Festival productions and premiere performances. In addition, there are free live performances of jazz combos, in the lobby of the Tel Aviv Cinematheque, the house of the festival.
Tel Aviv Music Festival
The Annual Tel Aviv Music Festival offers a wide variety of musical events. The focus of the festival is home-grown talent and the presenting of new music materials, many of which are played for the first time or sharing the celebrations of debut albums. The festival is been held in various venues around the city.
Visit Tel Aviv Music Festival’s website
Abu Gosh Vocal Music Festival
Abu Gosh Festival is the main vocal music event in Israel. The festival takes place twice a year during the Jewish holidays Sukkoth and Shavuot, and presents a programme of musical performances from the Baroque and Renaissance periods. One of the things that distinguish the festival is its long-standing tradition of communal singing by the audience. The rare combination of the spectacular Abu Gosh panoramic view, beautiful churches with the best acoustics in Israel, great and varied musical programmes and special audience, is what makes this unique festival a perfect place for vocal music lovers.
Visit Abu Gosh Festival’s website
The Red Sea Classical Music Festival
The Red Sea International Cleassic Music Festival was established at the initiative of the renowned conductor, Maestro Valery Gergiev one of the greatest conductors in the world today and the Mariinsky Opera House Orchestra and Choir. The festival attracts music lovers from around the world who enjoy the unique, if slightly incongruous, combination of classical music performed by international musicians and the warm winter sunshine of Eilat.
Festival for a Shekel
Festival Be’Shekel, was founded in 2001 by a group of artists and activists for social change, led by the prominent Israeli musician Sha`anan Streett (of Hadag Nachash).The founders of Festival Be’Shekel had a vision to combat cultural impoverishment in Israel`s periphery. The festival is working to promote art and culture in peripheral areas of Israel and to expose mainly youth to cultural environments and activities, out of the belief that culture is a universal right regardless of economic status. Another target that has been placed by the festival is to implement a joint Jewish-Arab cultural project that would build bridges between Jewish and Arab teens and young adults in mixed communities within Israel through the prism of arts and culture. The price of admission to each one of Festival BeShekel’s activities is one shekel (approximately 18p) which enables all sectors of Israeli society, regardless of religion or social economic status, access to the richness of our local culture.
Tamar Festival
Tamar (Palm) Music Festival focuses on Israeli and international music and take place in various venues near the Dead Sea during the Jewish Sukkot holiday. In a “camping” atmosphere there are many music events, including unique collaborations, as well as special activities like moon-light walking, night parties, art fairs, wine and cheese tasting and more.
Kfar Blum Music Festival
The Voice of Music in Upper Galilee Chamber Music Festival, also known as the Kfar Blum Music Festival is held in the beautiful Upper Galilee region in mid-summer and hosts young musicians of exceptional quality amid an intimate atmosphere. This festival, also known by the name of Upper Galilee Chamber Music Festival, presents chamber music concerts played by Israeli artists together with leading artists from overseas. In addition to the main events, a Voice of Music Festival for Children is been held, featuring assembly of unique musical events dedicated for the young audience.
The Holon International Women’s Festival
The Holon International Women’s Festival features a four day programme of music as well as theatre, dance, art, and literature. The festival honors those women who have made an imprint on Israeli culture, offers a stage for musicians, playwrights and visual artists, and a platform for discussions.
Eilat Chamber Music Festival
Eilat International Chamber Music Festival is held once a year in the winter, hosting some of the best Israeli and overseas musicians. In addition to concerts, events and special attractions, the festival’s soloists give master-classes to some 100 students who arrive from all over the world.
International Oud Festival
Organized to open dialogue and collaborative avenues between Arab classical music and Jewish liturgical poems (or piyyutim), the International Oud Festival focuses on the musical forms of the oud, which is a Middle Eastern lute. The festival is been held in November annually, and takes place in Jerusalem. Recently, an extension of the festival in Tel Aviv was initiated, taking place every August at the ‘Tzavta’ theatre.
Tzfat Klezmer Festival
Featuring a combination of solo and group performances, the Tzfat [Safed] Klezmer Festival offers devotees of this unique style of music a variety of entertaining events from which to choose. The festival takes place each summer and usually is arranged as a three day/night event. Concerts take place within the Red Mosque and other venues as well as outside performances in the crisp summer air.
The Roman Theater of Caesarea
Apart from being an important historical site, The Roman Theatre in Caesarea, often hosts concerts by major Israeli and international artists, such as Shlomo Artzi, Yehudit Ravitz, Mashina, Deep Purple, Bjork, Suzanne Vega and others. In addition, the port has in recent years become home to the annual Caesarea Jazz Festival which offers three evenings of top class jazz performances by leading international artists, and the Ralli museum in Caesarea houses a large collection of South American art and several Salvador Dal? originals.
Jacob’s Ladder Folk Festival
Established in 1978, Jacob’s Ladder Folk Festival is a unique musical and social event for lovers of all aspects of folk music from Bluegrass to World music, from Irish jigs to Country Rock, from Blues to Renaissance. The festival is been held in the beautiful setting of Nof Ginosar on Lake Kinneret (also known as Sea of Galilee). In addition to the spring festival, a Jacob’s Ladder Winter Weekend is taking place annually in December.
Zimriya
Taking its name from the Hebrew word for “song of God,” the World Assembly of Choirs in Israel festival is the first international choir assembly. Although originally an opportunity for Jewish artists to showcase their talents, today this event welcomes non-Jewish choirs as well. Among the festival’s activities are workshops, led by world known conductors.