John Malkovich Returns to Tel Aviv for "The Music Critic" Show
Acclaimed American actor John Malkovich is set to perform in Tel Aviv on April 13th at the Heichal HaTarbut (Culture Hall) with his show "The Music Critic." In the performance, Malkovich embodies a malicious music critic, blending satirical monologues with live renditions of classical masterpieces. The show, a collaboration with violinist and composer Aleksey Igudesman, first premiered in 2010 and has since toured globally.
The material for "The Music Critic" is derived from actual published reviews of classical composers. While musicians perform works by composers such as Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Schumann, and Debussy, Malkovich delivers scathing critiques. For instance, Brahms is labeled a "talentless scoundrel," and Schumann is depicted as delusional. Other composers like Dvořák also face harsh commentary.
Igudesman, a violinist, composer, and entertainer, conceived the show. He is known for the musical comedy duo Igudesman & Joo. Pianist Hyung-ki Joo performs alongside Malkovich, with additional musicians participating in various productions. The musical repertoire spans from Bach and Mozart to Prokofiev and Piazzolla.
This will be Malkovich's third visit to Israel for a cultural event. He previously attended the Jerusalem International Film Festival in 2008 and returned in 2013 with "The Infernal Comedy, Confessions of a Serial Killer," which was presented at the Eilat Chamber Music Festival and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.
"I am excited to return to Israel and very happy to meet the warm Israeli audience again, to whom I feel great closeness and identification," Malkovich stated in a message to his fans. "I hope to see you happy and optimistic! Sending you much love." Alon Yurik, the show's producer in Israel, commented, "It is exciting to see Malkovich's heartfelt response to performing in Israel. I see the producers' approval for their arrival in Israel as another confidence-building step towards the return of major international shows to Israel."
