{"id":33480,"date":"2016-04-11T06:31:38","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T13:31:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/?p=33480"},"modified":"2016-04-18T07:50:42","modified_gmt":"2016-04-18T14:50:42","slug":"israel-festival-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/?p=33480","title":{"rendered":"Israel Festival 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"More<\/a>
More than Naked\/Photo: Andrea Salzmann<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cultural adventurers will find much to explore as the Israel Festival presents its 55th<\/sup> edition, with a diverse and intriguing program. Taking place from May 24 \u2013 June 11, 2016, the Israel Festival presents a unique opportunity to experience new Israeli works and original productions, as well as artists and performers from Austria, Italy, Belgium, France, Portugal, the Czech Republic, the United States, and China, representing the wide spectrum of contemporary arts. CEO Eyal Sher and artistic director Itzik Giuli are entering their second year in these roles, with a clear commitment to presenting performances that reflect the artistic concerns and creativity of our time, engaging actively with cultural history and traditions, and dedicated in their effort to bring these artistic experiences to a wide audience.<\/p>\n

Reviewing this year’s program, some recurring themes emerge: the relationship between performers and audience as it is explored in Jean Fabre’s Mount Olympus, the work of Adina Bar-On, Philippe Quesne, and that of Doris Uhlich, to mention but a few; the body as physical presence and focal point, and questions of endurance are also very prevalent, as in the work of Fabre, Uhlich, and Alessandro Sciarroni. Another recurring thread is the connection to tradition, in its various configurations, from tributes to Shoshana Damari and Israeli rock band HaClique, to Wang Chong’s contemporary reworking of Thunderstorm<\/em>, a classic play from the early 1930s by Chinese dramatist Cao Yu, while choreographers Cecilia Bengolea and Fran\u00e7ois Chaignaud take their inspiration from the club scene, incorporating twerking, the krump, house and Jamaican dancehall.<\/p>\n

\"Shoshana<\/a>
Shoshana Damari<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Opening the festival is a salute to Shoshana Damari (1923 \u2013 2006), the queen of Israeli song, by an exciting ensemble of contemporary Israeli performers – Miri Mesika, Karolina, Ravid Kahalani and Shai Tsabari. Damari was born in Yemen, and came to Israel with her family at age two. She began her musical career within the community, accompanying her mother, a mourner, on the drum and in song. Although she first thought of becoming an actress, her warm, deep voice soon set her on a musical path. Her first solo musical performance was at age 16, accompanied by Nahum Vardi on piano. Her career spanned decades, reflecting Israeli culture and history. One of her most recent collaborations was with Idan Raichel, singing the opening and closing tracks on his 2005 album MiMa’amakim, Aleh Nisa Baruach, and Haer et Einav. The show “Ma Omrot Einayich” will feature new arrangements of well-known songs that were composed for Damari by the best of Israel\u2019s composers and lyricists, including Moshe Vilensky, Yaakov Orland, Nahum Vardi, and Ehud Manor, with each singer bringing his or her own individual interpretation to the songs. Damari was a singer who transcended the boundaries that divide people, whether by ethnicity, accent or age, bringing people together in the love of songs. The performance will take place in Safra Square, on Tuesday, May 24th.<\/p>\n

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mount Olympus \u2013 To Glorify the Cult of Tragedy<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Mount<\/a>
Mount Olympus\/Photo: Wonge Bergmann<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jan Fabre is internationally known for his intriguing and provocative works, which have included burning money, and drawing with his own blood, as well as the Bic-Art project in which he spent three days inside a white cube, covering the interior with drawings made in blue Bic pen. Mount Olympus<\/em>\u00a0is a 24-hour long theatre piece, with a cast of 27 actors, exploring Greek mythology from a very physical, visceral perspective.\u00a0 Artistic Director Itzik Giuli commented on the work at a press meeting held this morning at the Eden Tamir Music Center, saying that Mount Olympus “returns to the cradle of Western culture, the place where Western theatre began, presenting society’s problems and celebrating them, and he creates an event that asks anew: \u00a0can you create catharsis in our time and what is the significance of ecstasy?”<\/p>\n

The theatre will be transformed into a space offering Greek mythology resource stations, enrichment meetings, stretch and relaxation areas, oracle sessions, food and drink. The audience may enter and leave the auditorium freely during the performance. Thursday, June 9th<\/sup>, beginning at 17:00. This work contains nudity, admission from 18 and up.
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