The Moz and the maestro play Israel

It’s always a good to find out you have unexpected friends from interesting places.

This weekend, two musicians from different ends of the spectrum — British indie singer Morrissey (formerly of The Smiths) and Italian maestro Riccardo Muti (director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, visiting with the Israel Philharmonic) — spent some time in Israel performing, and by their own accounts, enjoyed their time in the land.

Morrissey, who performed one night in Tel Aviv, also received the key to the city from Mayor Ron Huldai, spoke a few words in Hebrew and wrapped himself in an Israeli flag at the end of the concert.

“From the heart of my bottom,” he quipped, “thank you.”

In a Channel 2 interview, he said it would be wrong to choose not to appear in a country because of the policies of its government, and that this held true for Syria too. He took a few digs at recent pop star visitor Madonna. And, asked whether he’d come one day to live in Tel Aviv, said the locals wouldn’t like him because “I’m too noisy.”

Muti performed Verdi’s Requiem three times in Israel with The Collegiate Chorale, commenting, “I feel so much at home when I come here.”