THE EMBASSY OF ISRAEL TO LATVIA AND LITHUANIA
CULTURE NEWS FROM ISRAEL
No. 4/2013
CONTENTS:
VISUAL ARTS

Mapping the Holy Land: Cartographic Treasures from the Trevor
and Susan Chinn Collection in the Israel Museum

“I Am Gabriel” A Scroll in Stone from the Time of Herod
CINEMA

New release
DIFFERENT FESTIVALS

The 15th Israeli Poets Festival

The Israel Festival
MUSIC

La Traviata Returns to the Stage of the Israeli Opera

The 15th Felicja Blumental International Music

Abu-Gosh Festival
DANCE

Tel-Aviv Dance Festival 2013

The Hole - World Premiere
IT IS INTERESTING

The Second Haifa Stairs Race

Let’s Celebrate a Humuss Day
VISUAL ARTS
Mapping the Holy Land: Cartographic Treasures from the Trevor and Susan
Chinn Collection in the Israel Museum
The Museum’s Norman Bier Section for Maps of the Holy Land has recently been enriched
by a veritable treasure trove of ancient maps – several of them rare and of great significance
– from the collection of Sir Trevor and Lady Susan Chinn, London. They represent some of
the most important schools of mapping Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and many are of high
artistic value. This display is the first in a series of annual exhibitions that will illuminate the
different facets of the Museum’s extensive collection of maps of the Holy Land. The
exhibition is open to public from April 17 till; July 13, 2013, at the Kay Merrill Hillman
Gallery.
Source and for more information: http://www.english.imjnet.org.il/Home
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“I Am Gabriel” A Scroll in Stone from the Time of Herod
An ancient Hebrew text inscribed on a stone stands at the focus of this exhibition, opening a
window onto the spiritual world of its writers in the Second Temple period. The inscription is
presented along with rare manuscripts, including ancient copies of the Bible, New
Testament, and Qur’an. Running like a leitmotif through all the texts and linking the three
monotheistic religions is the name of the angel Gabriel. The exhibition is open to public from
May 1, 2013 till February 1, 2014, at the Temporary Exhibition Gallery, Samuel and Saidye
Bronfman, Archaeology Wing.
Source and for more information: http://www.english.imjnet.org.il/Home
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CINEMA
New release
Up the Wrong Tree
A film by: Gur Bentvich.
The film is nominated for 5 Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Screenplay, Best Actor,
Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Casting.
Nitzan. also known as Nitz, returns to Israel from Australia and tries to get back his girlfriend,
Kesem. whom he had abandoned. Along with Kesem he also wants to get back Zorba, their
aged dog that they once shared. She refuses to let him but she does allow him to have a
relationship with Zorba, a kind of child who has found himself in the middle of a quarrel
between his separated parents…
See the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j41TSbsGtCU&feature=player_embedded
Source and for more information: http://www.israelifilms.co.il
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DIFFERENT FESTIVALS
The 15th Israeli Poets Festival
On May 13, the Israeli Poets Festival is being held in
Metula for the 15th year. It is an exclusive, joyous and fascinating event. The program is
diverse and eye-opening. It addresses poets and veteran poetry lovers, as well as young,
lively crowds. Hundreds of visitors, poetry lovers of all ages and backgrounds usually take
part in the Israeli Poets Festival, a unique and exciting event of poems and poets, held within
Metula's enchanting landscapes.
Source and for more information: http://goisrael.com
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The Israel Festival
The Israel Festival was founded in 1961 by Aaron Zvi Propes as a summer music festival
taking place in the ancient Roman theatre in Caesarea. The program was later broadened to
include all the performing arts, and the location was enlarged to include venues all over the
country. It was not until 1982 that the country's capital decided to adopt the Festival as its
own, and since then the majority of performances are held in Jerusalem.
This year, from May 23 till June 22, the Israel Festival takes place already for the 52nd year. It
is a three-week spectacular of art, music, dance and theater with Jerusalem’s top cultural
venues showcasing works by artists from all over the world, premieres of Israeli works and
free street theater performances.
Source and for more information: http://www.israel-festival.org.il/2010/index.asp?lng=Eng
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MUSIC
La Traviata Returns to the Stage of the Israeli Opera
One of Verdi's most popular operas returns to the stage of the Israeli Opera in a colorful and
spectacular production of the Latvian National Opera. A poignant love story that cannot end
happily with some of Verdi's greatest music.
Director: Andrejs Zagars
Set Designer: Andris Freibergs
Costume designer: Kristine Pasternaka
Source and for more information: http://www.israel-opera.co.il/Eng/?CategoryID=220
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The 15th Felicja Blumental International Music
Already for the 15th year, 6 days International Music Festival was presented to music lovers.
It took place from April 29 – May 4 at the Tel-Aviv Museum of Arts . This year spectators and
listeners could enjoy the actor John Malkovich with the Music/Theatre production "The
Infernal Comedy", the Tal-Grothouysn Piano Duo, performing Mendelssohn works with the
Leipziger Quartet and the Clematis Ensemble from Belgium and their vocal soloists. Brazilian
music for our young audience with the Chorole Ensemble, Excerpts from the Opera Maria de
Buenos Aires by Piazzola with Amparo Gonzales and Pitango Ensemble, as well as Festive
Jazz concert with Claudia Acuna with Avi Leibovich and his Orchestra. The Guitar week
hosted the virtuoso Denis Azabagic (Bosnia), Duo Binelli – Isaac (Argentina) and Augustin
Wiedemann (Germany). A part of the Festival’s program was a documantry film programm.
Source and for more information: http://www.blumentalfestival.com/en/
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Abu-Gosh Festival
The Abu-Gosh Festival is the leading and most important festival in the Israeli vocal music
scene. The Festival has existed in its present layout since 1992, and it takes place twice a
year – on Succoth and Shavuoth – lasting between three to five days each time. Music lovers
are invited to performances from May 14 till May 18.
Source and for more information: http://www.agfestival.co.il/en
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DANCE
Tel-Aviv Dance Festival 2013
Suzanne Dellal Centre
A month-long dance festival takes place in Tel-Aviv from May 1 till May 31, featuring 6
international dance companies, including from France, Holland and China; 7 Israeli
companies, including Batsheva, Vertigo, the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, and a
world premiere by Kamea; and 12 independent choreographers, such as Nadav Zelner, Shir
Capuano Quantz, Tvika Iskias and others.
Source and for more information: http://www.suzannedellal.org.il/?CategoryID=166
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The Hole - World Premiere
In May dance lovers are invited to Ohad Naharin’s new work world premiere. “The Hole” is
performed on a specially built octagonal stage raised above the audience.
Source and for more information: http://www.batsheva.co.il/en/?iid=1446
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IT IS INTERESTING
The Second Haifa Stairs Race
On May 17 urban race from Haifa port to the Carmel center takes place. It is a 3-kilometer
open-air route that includes 1,075 stairs. Racers are divided into age categories for 1,075
stairs, 1,500 stairs and the Ultra Everest race – 31,175 stairs, accomplished by running the
route 29 times, reaching a cumulative height equal to Mt. Everest.
Source and for more information: http://goisrael.com
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Let’s Celebrate a Humuss Day
Do you know that hummus is a Middle Eastern food dip or spread made from cooked,
mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic?
Are you a Hummus fan? Celebrate Hummus Day on May 13!
Source and for more information: http://hummusday.com/