Israeli Israel
Discovering Music in Israel
It may come as a surprise to some, considering that Israel mostly makes the news because of politics and war, that some of the best musical artists in the world have performed in this little country. Just recently, the mega-star band Depeche Mode performed an action packed concert to a sold out audience of 40,000 people. Every summer, some of the best jazz and blues performers from all around the world play at the Red Sea International Jazz Festival in Eilat. The Israeli Opera often hosts international stars in their productions, as well as full international performances, such as the Zephirelli Carmen and Tosca. Not only is Israel a place to see international talent, but some of the best classical musicians in the world were actually local. Itzhak Pearlman, Daniel Barenboim, and Gil Shaham are Israeli born and raised.
Israel is home to all music. In this very small country, it is possible, in one week, to see a classical concert, an opera, a world-class rock concert, a jazz performance in a smoky piano bar, an impromptu jam session, and an array of Israeli musical performances, from the smallest acoustic performance, a middle-eastern singer and band, to a full-on concert in the Caesarea Amphitheatre. It is possible that no other country on earth, in one small space, has so much music available to be heard.
For example, the Haifa Blues festival, which hosted Nick Cave one terrific year, or the Peter Paul and Mary performance in Jerusalem’s Sultan Pool in 1979. In recent years, international stars such as Madonna, U2, Roger Waters, Macy Gray, and even Paul McCartney have performed in Israel. Musicians continue to flock to Israel and to be born in Israel, despite the politics and constant strife and war, where they are met by high ticket sales and an adoring public. Browsing through a “Time Out Tel Aviv” will, in fact, offer a wide variety of different musical performances each week (both local and international). If venturing out of Tel Aviv, the selection is even larger.
There are several centers of musical activity. Tel Aviv, of course, is the largest, and it is possible to go to a different performance every night from every genre and style, even if staying in the city. There are fantastic concerts and shows outside of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, however. Luckily, Israel is a tiny country, and it takes only 40 minutes to reach the Caesarea Amphitheatre from Tel Aviv, and only an hour to Jerusalem. Still, adventurous musical pilgrims can find many treasures outside the big cities. A lot of local Israeli musicians perform in smaller shows in small clubs and pubs just about anywhere in the country. Shalom Chanoch, for example, one of Israel’s most popular rock singers, often performs an intimate acoustic show in some tiny place in the middle of nowhere. For die-hard fans, this is the best way to see a favorite performer.
There are many travel options for music aficionados visiting Israel, and the best way depends on what priorities are set for the trip. Pilgrims that like to plan ahead can buy tickets to bigger concerts online, especially from venues such as the Israeli Philharmonic and the Israeli Opera. This does take some planning and hunting, however, since each site only publishes the concerts performed by them. Many of the ticket agencies also advertise upcoming rock concerts online. Depending on the location of the selected performances, it is possible to book a room in one of the many Tel Aviv hotels, if most of the performances are held there, or to book a hotel in Jerusalem, if that is where most of the performances take place.
It’s also possible to buy advance tickets to one or two bigger concerts, and then play it by ear for the rest. There are plenty of ways to find shows once you arrive. If renting a car, it is possible to stay at any hotel in Israel, and travel to the musical performances you wish to go to. If staying for a longer period of time, and if planned carefully, there are many Bed & Breakfast type rooms all over the country, especially in the Galilee, which can provide a soothing change from music, but those truly passionate can find many musical performances even in the most remote locations in Israel.
Nearly without notice, Israel has evolved to be far more than a contention point between Jewish and Arab populations, to be more than a holy land to visit. It seems that these days, the pilgrims to Israel are coming to pay homage to the music. Perhaps more than any other country in the world, Israel has the most musical diversity and musical greatness per square kilometer.
Israeli-Palestinian conflict – Israel arms settlers, trains them to shoot Palestinians
