The Piano Festival brings performing artists together with the piano, for a musical encounter that offers adventures and surprises for musicians and audiences alike. Now in its 13th year the festival will take place from November 22 – 27, 2011 at the Suzanne Dellal Centre in Tel Aviv, with the opening concert at the Einav Cultural Center and the closing performance at the Noga Theatre in Jaffa.
The festival presents an opportunity for musicians to approach their own work differently; and for audiences to discover new aspects of songs and performers they love. Performing at this year’s festival for the first time are Ehud Banai, Boaz Sharabi, Yasmin Levy, Punch, and Asaf Avidan. Special events at the festival include a tribute to the landmark album On Avigdor’s Grass (1971) recorded by the Churchills with Arik Einstein, as well as several premieres and productions unique to the festival. New this year is a program for children that will include Korin Alal with material from her new album, Kobi Meidan and Beatles for the whole family with The Magical Mystery Tour and Idan Alterman. The complete program is available on the festival website.
A festival preview was held this morning at the Suzanne Dellal Centre, Midnight East had a chance to chat with some of the musicians and hear some wonderful performances. Ruth Dolores Weiss, whose all-Hebrew album Be’Ivrit was released to critical acclaim in 2008, will perform an evening of covers – If I’m Not Free Now – what the singer describes as a sometimes radical interpretation of songs she has loved throughout the years. The songs will all appear on her new album, expected to be released in January 2012, with covers of Billie Holiday, Nick Cave, David Bowie, Elvis and more. Yehu Yaron, who collaborated with Dolores Weiss on the arrangements for the songs, will accompany her on bass. Yaron will also be performing in another festival program with Adi Rennert, performing songs from Yaron’s debut album Everyday Things (2011) and offering a first listen to new materials to be recorded on his next album.
There will be 7 onstage in all – contrabass, bass, three wind instruments, drums, and percussion, with Ruth Dolores Weiss on piano and special guest Rona Kenan. She said that Billie Holiday’s One for My Baby (and one more for the road) is the first song I learned to sing and play, alone in my room, at a time when I didn’t imagine that I would ever be performing for an audience.”
Didi Erez is also just finishing up a new album, following his debut album Every Look (Kol Mabat). “I put so much thought into this album, I felt that everything had to be so much better, with more depth, otherwise it would not have the right to exist. It’s horrifying to do a second album.” Erez says that the new album is the complete opposite of the first, which was a solo flight. In the current album Erez connected with Amir Lev to create the texts, Shlomi Shaban is on piano, Mark Lazar of Rockfour is on bass, and his longtime playing partner Erez Russo is a full partner in the process of producing the album. The songs will be heard onstage for the first time at the Piano Festival, but in an acoustic version with piano and guitar. In that sense, the concert will retain an element of mystery in relation to the new album, as the arrangements, instruments and feel of the songs will be very different. For the piano festival concert Erez will be hosting Yair Kaz, the bassist from the Giraffes, with whom he’s been making music since they were both 15. Kaz will be playing piano, Erez Russo will be on guitar and Didi Erez says, “I’ll probably have a go at everything…”
Another much loved performer will be making his debut performance at the Piano Festival – Boaz Sharabi. “It will be just me and the piano,” Sharabi said with a smile, “it will sound a little different.” Known for his hits Latet, At Li Layla, Halevai, Pamela and many more, a Middle Eastern rock/folk/Yemenite sound that one does not immediately associate with the Piano Festival. That is the unique aspect of the festival – the unexpected musical connections it creates. Sharabi will sing familiar songs from his repertoire arranged for piano, with Yaron Bachar on piano. “This is where your abilities are tested,” said Sharabi, “I love challenges, I love to change things around. The presentation changes the sound and reveals your inner self, the original you. There’s usually a lot of action onstage in my performances, this evening will be more peaceful and tender.”
Performing this morning were: Ivri Lider who will be performing with Adi Goldstein – two pianos, beautiful songs, favorites and new; Punch who will be hosting Micha Shitrit; Dana Berger who will perform a tribute to the women who have inspired her – Hava Alberstein, Yehudit Ravitz, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin and other great female vocalists; Eric Berman who plans to perform solo, but is keeping the option open to invite his musician friends in the audience to join him onstage; Adi Rennert on piano with Maya Belsitzman on cello performing songs from Rennert’s album Bell; and Knesiat Hasechel who will be performing songs from their limited release album of poet’s songs, hosting Yuval Messner and Maya Belsitzman.
The diverse festival program is so enticing, and if this morning’s performance is any indication – it’s going to be an amazing festival. Tickets may be ordered from Zappa: www.zappa-club.co.il; 9080*; 03-7626666. Tickets for concerts at Suzanne Dellal may be ordered online: www.suzannedellal.org or call: 03-5105656.
The Piano Festival Director is Shabi Mizrahi, Deputy Director of the Culture Department and Director of the Performance Department of the Tel Aviv Municipality; Etti Anetta-Segev is the Festival Artistic Director. The festival is produced by the Tel Aviv Municipality Performance Department, “Hamon Volume” and Zappa.
