Israeli Opera Festival
Masada, Dead Sea, June 2014:
The Desert Awakens to Life
Paris is Born at the Foot of Masada
This year’s Festival program includes:
La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi
Conducted by Daniel Oren
and directed by Michal Znaniecki
June 21, 14, 16 and 17, 2014
A one time performance at which the Israeli Opera
hosts the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by
Kent Nagano:
Beethoven’s Symphonies Number 1 and 9
with international soloists and a choir
June 15, 2014
The Idan Raichel Project with special guests in a moving
performance at the foot of Masada
June 13, 2014
Operatic concerts at Dead Sea hotels during the Festival
For the first time the Festival comes to the Western
Galilee:
A Weekend of Mozart in the Crusadors Courtyard in Old
Akko
June 19-21, 2014
Following its successful debut in 2010 with Nabucco, and productions of Aida (2011)
and Carmen (2012), the Israeli Opera Festival at Masada returns to its spectacular
setting at the lowest point on earth with a new production of La traviata by Giuseppe
Verdi, June 12-17, 2014. La traviata will be directed by Michal Znaniecki, one of the
most renowned opera directors in the world today, and conducted by Maestro Daniel
Oren, one of the most sought after conductors in today's opera world who has
conducted all the productions at Masada. About 50,000 people from Israel and
overseas are expected to attend the festival in 2014, bringing the total festival
audience figures to about 210,000.
This year the festival is extending its activity to the north of Israel, to the Western
Galilee, with the first Akko Opera Festival. This Mozart celebration in Akko will take
place on the following weekend, June 19-21, 2014, performed in the Crusaders
Courtyard in the Old City, another UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site like
Masada. The program will feature the opera Don Giovanni, Mozart’s Requiem, a
special focus of The Magic Flute for the whole family and a colorful Knights’ feast in
the reconstructed Knights’ Halls.
The Israeli Opera Festival at Masada
La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi was the first opera performed in pre statehood Israel in
1923. After joint discussions between the management of the Israeli Opera, the
production conductor, Daniel Oren, and the director Michal Znaniecki, it was decided
that a splendid new production of this opera at the foot of Masada will be the main
performance of the 2014 Festival. La traviata will be performed only 4 times, on June
12, 14, 16 and 17, 2014.
In the best tradition of the festival, the production will feature the Israeli conductor
Daniel Oren, who has selected an outstanding team of soloists for this La traviata,
including, in the lead role, the soprano Elena Mosuc, who last summer thrilled
thousands of spectators in the same role of Violetta in the Arena of Verona. She will
alternate with the soprano Aurelia Florian. The role of Alfredo will be sung by Celso
Albelo, considered one of the world’s leading tenors. The role of Germont will be
taken by Ionut Pascu, the Romanian baritone discovered by Oren when he
participated in the Israeli Opera production of Lucia di Lammermoor. Since then,
Pascu has appeared regularly in the baritone roles in productions conducted by Oren
all over the world. The rest of the cast will comprise the leading Israeli opera singers of
our time. Also participating are the Israeli Opera Chorus and the Opera Orchestra –
The Israel Symphony Orchestra, Rishon LeZion.
Michal Znaniecki, one of the world’s most important opera directors, specializes in
open air productions. The team that will work with him includes: set designer Luigi
Scoglio, costume designer Joanna Medynska, the choreographer couple Elzbieta
Szlufik-Pantak and Grzegorz Pantak, while the lighting and special video designer for
this production is Bogumil Palewicz.
This will be the largest and most complex production ever seen in Israel, employing
some 2500 people, in addition to 700 participants and operating teams. The
infrastructure for the performance includes a stage measuring 60m wide by 66m
deep, a total of 3000m2; stands with comfortable seating for about 7,580 people;
parking space for hundreds of buses and private vehicles; communications and
Internet; an audience reception area inspired by the aroma of a Parisian street, about
15,000m2 in size with seating for 3500 people; and about 160 ecological bathrooms, as
well as backstage and technical areas.
For the first time in the history of the Festival, the Israeli Opera will host the Israel
Philharmonic conducted by Kent Nagano, one of the world’s greatest conductors, on
Sunday, June 15. With the backdrop of Masada, the orchestra will perform
Beethoven’s Symphonies No. 1 and No. 9, with the participation of international
soloists: Ann Petersen – soprano, Daniele Sindram – contralto, Michael Wienius –
tenor, Audun Iversen – bass baritone, together with the Gari Bertini Israeli Choir. The
finale of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony has over the years become a symbol and
expression of freedom, and it will acquire extra layers of significance at the foot of
Masada.
The second night of the Festival (Friday, June 13) will be devoted to the Idan Raichel
Project with some of Israel’s best loved performers. The Project is famous as an
energetic and emotional performance presented in an authentic and enchanting way.
Incorporating special international guests, the performance promises a celebration of
music and sound at the food of Masada.
Throughout the Festival special operatic concerts will take place in Dead Sea hotels,
with the participation of singers from the Israel Opera’s Meitar Opera Studio. These
will include: “Carmen and her friends”, “Upstairs Downstairs in Mozart’s operas”, “An
Italian Belcanto Celebration”, and more.
For the second year, Arkia is the main commercial sponsor of the festival and will be
the sole marketer to the Israeli public of packages (tickets + accommodation) for
events at the Israeli Opera Festival at Masada. The Israeli Opera and Arkia have
worked together to obtain attractive prices for accommodation in the Dead Sea
Hotels.
Partners in the Opera Festival at Masada include Arkia Airlines and Tamar Regional
Council, with the assistance of Bimot, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture
and Sport, the Ministry for Development of the Negev and Galilee, The Nature & Parks
Authority, Dead Sea Works, The Association of Dead Sea Hotels, and the Jewish
National Fund. The Festival is being marketed overseas by Eshet Tours and Amiel
Tours.
The Israel Ministry of Tourism has allocated NIS 1,750,000 for marketing support for
the opera festival, including a campaign in Germany, Italy, France, Russia, England and
the USA. The overseas campaign funded by the Ministry of Tourism positions Israel as
a cultural tourism destination in addition to its religious and historical richness. The
marketing campaign is aimed at a high quality audience overseas, people who travel
the world to attend in cultural events of the highest international standards. The
campaign includes extensive internet advertising, as well as the production and
distribution of a 35 second advertising commercial broadcast on Mezzo and a 5
minute film that charts the making of Carmen.
As in previous years, the Ministry of Tourism will offer full hosting to dozens of
journalists from all over the world, who will report on the festival. The Israeli Opera
Festival at Masada, which has already attracted about 10,000 cultural tourists to
Israel, is expected to attract 2,000-3,000 tourists, who will visit Israel especially for the
festival.
Facts and figures
 50 different companies located primarily in the Dead Sea and Negev region are
involved in the festival.
 The festival provides work for about 2,500 people in the periphery.
 Largest cultural production in Israel – started preparing the location 3 months
ago
 50,000 people are expected to attend
 7,580 seat tribunal
 700 performers, musicians etc. including cast
 80 tons of equipment shipped into Israel
 Giant stage- 3,500 square meters
 The kitchen, serving the reception area during the festival, is spread over 800
square meters and will supply 50,000 food servings (25 tons of food) and
300,000 liters of water.
 Hundreds of ushers and security guards
 Parking lot will accommodate 200 buses

Each festival injects about NIS 80 million into the economy.
"Press Room" – further information in Hebrew and English and print-resolution
photographs and broadcast-quality video footage can be found at:
http://www.israel-opera.co.il/press
Username: Opera
Password: Masada
Save the date: The foreign media will be invited to cover the dress rehearsal of
La traviata on Wednesday, June 11, 2014.
Performance details:
La traviata at the foot of Masada
Thursday 12/6/14 21:30 (premiere) / Saturday 14/6/14 21:30 Monday 16/6/14
21:30 / Tuesday 17/6/14 21:30
New production / sung in Italian, with Hebrew & English surtitles. The
performance lasts about three hours.
Ticket prices:
NIS 950 (level 1) / NIS 750 (level 2) / NIS 500 (level 3) / NIS 1300 (VIP)
The Idan Raichel Project and Special Guests
Friday 13/6/14 22:00
Ticket prices:
NIS 400 (level 1) / NIS 300 (level 2) / NIS 200 (level 3) / NIS 550 (VIP)
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphonies No. 1 and No. 9 by Beethoven
Sunday 15/6/14 21:30
Ticket prices:
NIS 750 (level 1) / NIS 500 (level 2) / NIS 300 (level 3) / NIS 1000 (VIP)
To order Tickets
Bimot, on telephone *6226, or at www.opera-masada.com
To purchase holiday packages, including tickets and hotel accommodation:
Arkia, on telephone *5758 or at www.arkia.co.il
The Akko Opera Festival
The first Akko Opera Festival offers tourists and Israelis the opportunity to combine
two cultural highlights within one week, and both in UNESCO-designated World
Heritage Sites.
The Akko Opera Festival features the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with three
concerts. On Thursday, June 19, a semi-staged production of the famous opera Don
Giovanni will be performed under the stars at the Crusaders' Courtyard in the Old
City. On June 20, Mozart's Requiem will be performed, followed on the morning of
June 21 by the Magic Flute, in a program suitable for children, and later the same
evening, another performance of Don Giovanni. Festival-goers will also have the
opportunity of enjoying a Crusaders' feast prior to each evening program, served in
the Knights' Halls.
Don Giovanni, performed by The Israel Chamber Orchestra and the Moran Singers,
conducted by Frederic Chaslin and directed by Shirit Lee Weiss, will feature Oded
Reich as Don Giovanni and Yair Polishook as Leporello. Mozart's Requiem, performed
by The Israel Chamber Orchestra and the Moran Ensemble, conducted by Daniel
Cohen, The Magic Flute will be sung in Hebrew by soloists of the Israeli Opera's Meitar
Opera Studio in a translation by Ehud Manor.
Performance details:
Don Giovanni
Thursday 19/6/14 21:30 / Saturday 21/6/14 21:30
The performance lasts about two and a half hours.
Ticket prices:
NIS 249
The Mozart Requiem
Friday 20/6/14 22:30
The performance lasts one hour
Ticket prices:
NIS 199
The Magic Flute
Saturday 21/6/14 11:00
The performance lasts one hour, sung in Hebrew.
Ticket prices:
NIS 80
To order Tickets:
http://www.israel-opera.co.il/?CategoryID=771