Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Israel's Revolution Orchestra performing at the Sibiu Festival in Romania, June 2023 (Courtesy Daniel Basin)
The Revolution Orchestra, known for its riffs on classics from Beethoven to Radiohead, is representing Israel in Romania and has made contact with an Iranian theater group.
The orchestra was taking part in the Sibiu Festival, at which orchestra CEO Omer Lackner Reichental sat next to Sara Rasoulinejad of Iran’s Saye Theatre group.
“Our countries are indeed enemies, but we are friends,” said Rasoulinejad.
Lackner Reichental answered: “As far as I’m concerned, we can make peace.” The two shook hands to applause from conference participants from China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the US.
Iran doesn’t recognize Israel as a state, and a primary Israel goal is to curb Iran’s nuclear program. But in the world of arts and culture, relations work a little differently.
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The Revolution Orchestra performed “Moods,” a piece in motion that begins with Chopin’s Prelude and goes on a journey through works by Bach, Antonio Carlos Jobim and the song “Exit Music” by Radiohead, with original music written by Zohar Sharon.
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