Concert to remember Arik Einstein
More than 20 of Israel’s best musicians will gather to sing the icon’s songs
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
It’s been nearly a year since the sudden death of Arik Einstein last November. Now his family and some of Israel’s best-known musicians are ready to commemorate the musical icon.
More than 20 of Israel’s best-known musicians are gathering for a concert in Einstein’s memory on October 7 at Tel Aviv’s Ganei Yehoshua (Yarkon Park).
They’ll be singing the best of Einstein, said musical director Koby Ben Atar.
Einstein, 74, suffered a severe aortic aneurysm at his home last November and was laid to rest at Tel Aviv’s Trumpeldor Cemetery.
Considered the father of Israeli rock, the musician moved the country from its early folk standards to a moderately harder-hitting rock ethos. He was a musical icon who accompanied, and inspired, the country and its people through its ongoing history and, along the way, managed to resonate with every type of Israeli.
Now his fellow musicians want to honor his memory.
The list of participating musicians is long, from Avraham Tal, Arkadi Duchin, Berry Sakharof, David D’Or, Dudu Tassa, Danny Sanderson, Danny Robas and Yehudit Ravitz to Monica Sex, Mosh Ben Ari, Micha Sheetrit, Machina, Ninette, Karolina, Rita, Shalom Hanoch and Shlomi Shabbat.
They’ll sing renditions of his music, accompanied by a full orchestra, with duets between artists, and compositions performed by friends who worked with Einstein in the recent as well as more distant past.
In honor of the upcoming anniversary of Einstein’s death, Sheetrit released a single, “Sometimes,” a song he worked on with Einstein more than 10 years ago.
“The concert is in honor of the man who brought us the music of our lives,” said Ben Atar. “Arik was the soundtrack of my life. It was his creativity, spirit, Tel Avivness, sound, talent and public sensibility that made him a model.”
The concert is being produced with the full blessing of Einstein’s wife, Sima, and children, said Ben Atar.
It’s sponsored by Cellcom, which is marking its 20th anniversary. The company will be offering customers a 50% discount, which will also be made available to residents of the southern border communities.
Tickets cost NIS 270, and NIS 135 for Cellcom and Netvision customers, as well as residents of the southern border communities. Call *6226 for tickets.
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