The Nahal Tzipori Spring Festival will take place on the banks of the restored Tzipori river from April 17 – 20, 2024. The festival, a joint initiative of the Kishon Rivers and Drainage Authority and the Polyphony Foundation, is a three-day celebration of music, nature, and multiculturalism, takes as its theme “Growth, Hope, Partnership.”
Festival Artistic Director Nabeel Abboud Ashkar, Executive Director of the Polyphony Foundation, released a statement: “The festival grew out of a collaboration with the Kishon Rivers and Drainage Authority. It’s an opportunity for us to make the voice of music heard as a connection between communities and cultures. We envision Nahal Tzipori (the Tzipori river) as a meeting place connecting the residents of the Galilee, Jews, and Arabs. From our perspective, the Nahal Tzipori Spring Festival is an opportunity to step out of concert halls into the wonderful natural landscape of the Galilee that surrounds us and bring the treasures of music to diverse audiences who come from near and far.”
In this celebration of coexistence, creativity, and culture, a concert venue will be set up in the heart of the valley, near the Monk’s Mill in Nahal Tzipori. In Abu Atef’s Agricultural Hospitality Complex, there will be performances by musicians, emerging and experienced, Arabs and Jews. Open air concerts will take place amid the beauty of nature. The festival’s many attractions will include the Galilee Arts Fair with booths featuring local artists, food stalls with local treats, walking and biking trails, guided tours, and workshops on basket weaving and Debka dance.
The festival is part of the Nahal Tzipori Project that emphasizes strengthening the communities and local economy as an integral part of the restoration project. The Nahal Tzipori project is distinctive as an Israeli representative in the EU Horizon2020 project MERLIN – the ecological restoration of freshwater-related ecosystems. The festival is a collaborative project of local authorities, residents of the region, and the Polyphony Foundation, a Nazareth-based foundation that aims to create connections and dissolve the barriers between different religions and cultures in Israel through music.
The Nahal Tzipori Festival Program:
Opening the festival will be a performance by Ehud Banai and the Jish ensemble – George Siman, Salem Darwish, Oved Efrat and Maayan Doari. The program will include Banai’s originals, Arab folk music and classic Arab songs. Jewish audience members may recognize some of the melodies from piyyutim (liturgical songs). Thursday April 18th at 20:30.
“Andalusian Sunset” features soprano Nour Darwish together with her long-time collaborator, pianist composer and conductor Nizar Elkhater. The concert will take audiences on a journey through Andalusian songs, arias from operas, Arab classics, and contemporary original works in Arabic and Hebrew. Special guest will be cellist and vocalist Maya Belsitzman. Friday, April 19th at 18:30.
The closing concert will be “Opera Pearls” – Israeli Opera soloist, soprano Daniela Skorka will join ten musicians from the Galilee Chamber Orchestra conducted by Dudi Sofer for a classical music celebration with a diverse repertoire of beloved arias from the classical canon along with musical surprises in many languages. Special guest will be soprano Rania Ateek. Saturday, April 20th at 21:00.
A bilingual concert for children will feature a musical journey with storytelling, drama activities, and an acquaintance with the instruments of the orchestra, all amidst the surrounding natural landscape. The concert will be accompanied by explanations in Arabic and Hebrew, led by musician Shaden Nahara, with a chamber ensemble of soloists from the Galilee Chamber Orchestra. The performance for children of all ages and the entire family will include beloved well-known classics from the Arabic and Western music repertoires. Friday, April 19th at 12:30, Saturday, April 20th at 11:00.
Dancers of the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company “Kibbutzit 2” will perform Let’s Dance – a performance full of rhythm that will invite the audience to a dialogue in movement, turning into a huge party. Appropriate for all ages. Friday, April 19th at 14:30.
Additional information and tickets for concerts are available on the festival website. The Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company performance is free.
