Israel appears at 1st
sight to be a brash, assertive society. However, to see Israelis
express themselves in music is to realise the hidden
emotional depth of this nation. It is striking that most buskers
here play classical music. Many world class classical
music events take place in Israel, including the International
Harp Contest held every 3 years (the next one, which will
be the 16 th, is scheduled for 2006). In addition, there are significant
classical music festivals, such as those at Kibbutz Ein Gev and
the Kibbutz Kfar Blum. The Israel Festival, bringing a high culture
mix of music, dance and drama, turns Jerusalem into the world’s
cultural stage for 3 weeks in May and June.
The Jerusalem Centre for the Performing Arts, 20
Marcus Street (telephone: (02) 560 5757/55), in the German Colony
area of west Jerusalem, serves as the city’s unofficial cultural
centre. This venue and the Jerusalem
Film Center, Hebron Road (telephone: (02) 565 4333) (the city’s
trendy centre for arthouse films) are worth visiting in their own
right, as places to absorb the buzz of creativity amongst Israel’s
most talented performers.
The best ticket agencies for nearly all concerts
and theatre performances in Jerusalem are the:
Bimot
Address: 8 Shamai Street
Telephone: (02) 624 0896)
Klaim
Address: 12 Shamai Street
Telephone: (02) 625 6869
Ben Nayim
Address: 38 Jaffa Street
Telephone: (02) 623 1273
Travellers to the city wanting to catch live shows
can also buy tickets in person from the various box offices.
Listings for main events can be
found at the Jerusalem
municipal website while the online magazine, @The
Source, includes a guide to cultural events. |
