As in 2021, the upcoming Abu Ghosh Festival will once again be held in Tel Aviv, taking place from October 11th to 13th 2022. Popular from the 1950s as an annual event, the festival's organization was taken over in 1992 by music-lover Gershon Cohen and choral conductor Hanna Tzur, the revamped festival then happening twice a year. Attended by music-lovers from far and wide, people have been flocking to the two Abu Ghosh churches to hear the festival concerts, also enjoying the craft stalls, outdoor events and the relaxed, holiday atmosphere. As the Kiryat Yearim Church is presently undergoing renovation, the Sukkot Festival will take place at the Yitzhak Rabin Centre in Tel Aviv. The Rabin Centre, located on a hill, boasts commanding panoramic views of the Yarkon Park and of the city of Tel Aviv, with beautiful grounds and three concert venues – the Leah Rabin Hall, the Round Hall and the Triguboff Gardens nestling in the spectacular grounds. As of 2021, a new team has taken over the running of the festival, most of its members active on the Israeli music scene - Amit Tiefenbrunn - music director, Tessa Harari - management and production, Alon Harari - production coordinator and Yeela Avital - participation director and fundraising. The team has set its sights at creating a multi-sensory cultural experience with music at its core, providing listeners with events of diverse musical styles - western classical music, regional-, ethnic-, folk-, jazz- and classical Israeli music.
Here's a question: how do you prefer your concert program? Strictly classical? If so, you might like to attend Concert No.6: “Bach. Bach? Bach!”- the best of Bach’s Motets, Mass and Concerto for 2 flutes - featuring the Israeli Vocal Ensemble and the Barrocade Ensemble. Or Concert no.11: “Vivaldi - The Four Seasons/Mozart-Exultate Jubilate” with violinist Roi Shiloah and soprano Veronica Brook. Or two concerts introducing the festival's overseas guest choir - Concert no.12 “Motets and Madrigals-past to present'' and Concert no.15, “Shining Dreams'', both performed by Vocapella Limburg, an award-winning male choir from Belgium. In “Romantic Psalms”, Concert No.16, the Tel Aviv Chamber Choir and soloists, directed by Michael Shani, will present an all-Psalm program. "The Reign of Love - Rome and Venice’s Baroque Opera Grandeur” (Concert No.20) will offer festival-goers a glimpse into some 17th- and 18th century Italian aristocratic families, their composers and operas of the time.
But let's say the festival atmosphere tempts you to move “outside the box” and indulge in a little mixing of styles, you might just choose to hear “Mediterranean Sensuality” (Concert no.3), performed by the Mezzo Ensemble, an encounter between songs and dances of 17th century Europe and Greek music of the 20th century. “Carmen’s Jazz Vibe” (Concert No.4) promises a daring and electrifying program, in which soprano Daniela Skorka joins the Guy Mintus Trio. "La Folia" (Concert No.10) will present the concept of insanity as expressed in both early- and contemporary music. For this event, Inbar Solomon (recorders), Yizhar Karshon (harpsichord) and Amit Tiefenbrunn (viola da gamba) will be joined by choreographer/dancer Nirit Rakhbi. In a “Magical Mystery Tour” (Concert No.13), English Baroque music, Shakespearean music, early Celtic music and Italian opera will come together as performed by Sunita Stanislav (Scottish harp), Uri Schleifer (Irish fiddle), Genevieve Blanchard (Baroque flute) and soprano Yeela Avital.
Festival-goers can also choose from music of different countries and ethnic styles, from the toe-tapping music of Argentina in “Concertango - 100 Years of Tango from Gardell to Piazzolla" (Concert No.2) or traditional Celtic and Jewish music, gypsy rhythms and a touch of jazz improvisation, performed by the Tzalool Duo (Concert No.5). East meets west in an "Ethnic Celebration" (Concert No.7), a program that includes Bartok's "Romanian Folk Dances", but also Turkish, Armenian, and Israeli Music, as performed by the Galilee Ensemble. No new faces to Israeli audiences, members of the Hortus Musicus Ensemble (artistic director – Andres Mustonen) will take listeners on a whirlwind tour of the Balkans and the Orient. For those of us who are partial to American country music - getting a buzz from the songs of Bob Dylan, Hank Williams and Johnny Cash - the "Jacks of Diamond" players and vocalists will fit the bill with a "Folk, Bluegrass and Country Celebration" (Concert No.14). For people transported by the music of such greats as Mercedes Sosa, Dorival Caymmi, Villa-Lobos and Ariel Ramirez, Daniela Skorka and guitarist Eyal Leber will perform popular songs from Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela and Chile in “Latin-American Classics'' (Concert No,17). “Passion and Emotion” (Concert No.18), featuring singers Yasmin Levy and Yaniv D’Or with Ensemble Naya, will stir up emotions in an evening of Ladino and Spanish music, not to mention the wild, extreme sentiments of love, injustice, sadness and heartache to be experienced in “Fuego y Tierra” (Fire and Earth) (Concert No.19), a traditional Flamenco performance of song, guitar and dance.
And, no less important, festival-goers will have an opportunity to hear some of Israel's young, up-and-coming choral singers. Three of Israel's prominent youth choirs can be heard performing a wide variety of choral repertoire in “The Next Generation” (Concert No.8).
Winding up the 2022 Abu Ghosh Festival, the Rockberry Sisters, a unique all-female cover band, will indeed rock listeners into reliving the nostalgia of the “50’s and 60’s Greatest Hits” with songs of the Beatles, Aretha Franklin, The Monkeys, The Supremes, Elvis, The Beach Boys, and many more. The 2022 Abu Ghosh Festival also promises outdoor stalls selling up-market arts and crafts.
Ticket reservations: https://www.goshow.co.il/pages/minisite/234
Photo: Yoel Levi
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