Starting this weekend, the Abu-Gosh Festival will begin its 25th year. Set in the historic village of Abu Gosh in the hills surrounding Jerusalem, the festival takes place in two very different churches.
The festival celebrates the choral tradition through the centuries. Baroque, Renaissance and liturgical music are joined by folk songs, original compositions and exotic instruments such as the oud, bouzouki and mandolin.
The Israel’s leading soloists and ensembles take part in the festival, including the Barrocade Ensemble, the Moran Ensemble, the Ramat-Gan Chamber Choir, and many more ensembles. Festival founder Hanna Tzur, Stanley Sperber, David Sebba, Naomi Faran, and others will conduct.
Mikis Theodorakis’ Canto General, based on poems by Pablo Neruda, is one of the festival’s main events this year. Jazz will meet classical in a concert with Uri Bracha on guitar, Oren Sagi on the double bass and soprano Sharon Dvorin. The singers of the Meitar Opera Studio will perform chansons, scenes from Carmen and more.
Traditional music also features in the festival. Oud player/violinist Yair Dalal will perform a concert of original songs in an East-West fusion style. English folk songs set by McCartney and Paul Simon will be sung alongside baroque and Renaissance pieces by Purcell and Dowland. Anat Czarny, another Israel Opera soloist, will perform pieces by South American composers such as De Falla and Jobim.
On the liturgical menu are Pergolesi’s Stabat mater, the Brahms Requiem, the Fauré Requiem, and Bach’s Requiem for Prince Leopold. Puccini’s early work, the Messa di Gloria, will be performed alongside Kurt Weill’s Sabbath Kiddush and Verdi’s Pater Noster. An impressive cast led by Naomi Faran will perform Mendelssohn’s Gloria and Schubert’s Magnificat.
For the full schedule and ticket purchases visit www.agfestival.co.il. Tickets are also available through Bimot *6226 and Bravo *3221.
