Love and music are always excellent companions, and the Herzliya Performing Arts Center will dedicate this Valentine’s Day weekend to “Love in all Languages.” The celebration begins Thursday, February 11 with Miri Mesika premiering new material from her forthcoming album, alongside “Now You’re Coming Back,” “Shalom LaEmunut” and other favorites.
Actor and singer Sasi Keshet will perform an evening of French chansons “Love and Song Bloom in Paris.” This romantic evening is directed by Keshet’s partner in work and life, the actress Yona Elian-Keshet with texts written by Rafi Kenan. The songs of Yves Montand, Jacques Brel and Charles Aznavour, George Brassens and Keshet’s expressive voice promise an enchanted evening.
The “Voice of South America” will also be heard Friday night with Meytal Travelis in a tribute concert to Mercedes Sosa. The songs will be performed in Hebrew, as translated by Ehud Manor and Rachel Shapira, arranged by Kobi Oshrat.
Larissa Tatoyev, Maria Kavalsky, Lilia Gretsova and Anastasia Klevan, sopranos from the Israeli Opera, will explore “The Geography of Love” on Saturday morning at 11:00, accompanied by Lena Gershoni on piano. Love and pain are intertwined in the lives of these women – Rosina, Violeta, Aida, Margitte, Carmen, Delila and others. Their dilemmas are played out in arias and duets from Verdi, Mozart, Puccini and Bizet. Part of the musical series “Saturdays and Sounds,” the concert will be conducted by David Zeba and presented by Yossi Shiffman.
A Latin-American beat infuses Saturday night with singer Yotam Cohen accompanied by the Latino American Folklore Ensemble in a performance that won accolades at the National Folklore Festival in Argentina.
Mashina will perform in the large hall on Saturday night as part of their winter tour. With a new album coming out, this concert offers a chance to hear their new material, soon to hit the airwaves.
On Valentine’s Day, Menny Pe’er will take audiences “Back to San Remo” with Doron Mazer, Roberto Zikuri, Rami Talmid, Limor Shapira and a string ensemble from the Ra’anana Symphony. Nostalgia rules with the most romantic Italian songs from the San Remo Festivals through the years.
The musical tour would not be complete without a stop in Greece. Shimon Parnes will host singer Aliza Aviv with songs and stories from Greece and the Balkans, a true “Love Story.”
Herzliya Performing Arts Center 15 Jabotinsky Street
Tickets: 1-700-70-29-29
Image credit: Miri Mesika/Photo: Eyal Nevo
