Two Jerusalem cultural festivals bring back global performers
Dancers, choreographers and classical musicians come to the capital in September under shadow of war
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Two upcoming Jerusalem events will host international artists, a tougher challenge of late as Israel faces growing cultural isolation on the global stage amid the war in Gaza.
Some 45 dancers and choreographers from 13 countries will participate in the 4th International Solo Dance Festival, while visiting musicians will take part in the Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival.
The dance festival is hosted by Hansen House and the Jerusalem Theater September 1-6, with visiting artists from Taiwan, Japan, the US, the Czech Republic, Greece, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Romania, Argentina, Poland, Italy and Germany.
Highlights at the festival include an evening dedicated to Taiwanese culture at Hansen House’s courtyard, with eight contemporary dance works by Taiwanese choreographers. The event will include a Taiwanese culinary experience with sushi stations, bubble tea, whisky and beer.
The closing performance will feature musician Arkadi Duchin and trumpeter Avishai Cohen with choreographer Miriam Engel.
Jerusalem’s YMCA will host the Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival, September 9-13, under the artistic direction of Elena Bashkirova.
Last year, the festival was canceled due to the ongoing war. It is taking place with much of last year’s planned program finally being performed.
The event will include seven concerts, blending famous masterpieces with lesser-known works, and featuring quintets of five instruments, exploring the sounds created by different combinations.
Participating musicians include pianists Elena Bashkirova and Plamena Mangova, violinists Latica Honda-Rosenberg, Madeleine Carruzzo, and Mark Karlinsky, cellists Ivan Karizna and Tim Park, clarinetist Pablo Barragán, and others.
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