Jerusalem Oud Festival Returns With International and Israeli Stars
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
The 27th International Oud Festival will be held in Jerusalem from November 5-12, featuring 16 performances by Israeli and international artists. The lineup includes Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood, a tribute to Ahuvah Ozeri, and a closing performance by Tipex. The festival will also present music from Greece, India, Morocco, and original works by Israeli musicians, bridging traditional and contemporary genres.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- The 27th International Oud Festival in Jerusalem runs November 5-12 with 16 performances.
- Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood will open the festival with their "Jarak Karibak" project.
- Tipex will close the festival with a performance featuring the "Ha'afala Ve'ha'hora" orchestra.
- A tribute concert will honor the late musician Ahuvah Ozeri.
- International artists from Greece, India, and Morocco are scheduled to perform.
- The festival aims to blend Eastern music with rock, jazz, and classical genres.
The 27th International Oud Festival will take place in Jerusalem from November 5-12, featuring 16 performances by Israeli and international artists. The festival, produced by Beit HaConfedertzia and artistically directed by Efi Benya, will span multiple venues including the Jerusalem Theater, Khan Theater, and Beit HaConfedertzia. This year's event aims to bridge Eastern music and ancient traditions with rock, jazz, classical, and contemporary creations.
Opening the festival on November 5 and 6 will be Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood, guitarist and composer from Radiohead. They will perform selections from their collaborative project "Jarak Karibak," which reinterprets classic Arabic love songs, alongside material from Tassa's "The Kuwaitis" albums. The festival will conclude on November 12 with a performance by the band Tipex, joined by the "Ha'afala Ve'ha'hora" orchestra, blending the band's hits with arrangements inspired by hafla, hora, disco, and Mimouna music.
A central tribute will honor the late musician Ahuvah Ozeri on the tenth anniversary of her passing. Musician Avi Belleli will lead the show "Oud, I Will Continue to Sing and Play," featuring guest singers Efrat Gosh, Hila Ruach, Ruth Dolores Weiss, and Galia Hai, accompanied by musicians who previously worked with Ozeri.
Shlomi Shaban will present a special festival performance with guests Mark Elias and the Kadosh brothers, merging Shaban's piano, Elias's kemenche, and the Kadosh brothers' oud playing in new arrangements of Shaban's songs. The festival will also host a debut Israeli performance by Greek singer Babis Tsertos and santur player Arti Katin, presenting Rebetiko and Smyrnaika musical traditions. Another international act, "Tribeni," will bring together Indian classical musicians Rakesh Chaurasia (bansuri), Furbaian Chatterjee (sitar), and Ojas Adhiya (tabla).
The Andalusian Orchestra will collaborate with Moroccan singer Anas Belhashmi and the Moroccan ensemble "Bridges of Love" for a performance featuring Israeli piyyutim (liturgical poems) and Moroccan singers, with songs in Hebrew and Arabic. The festival will also showcase original works, including a jazz and Andalusian music fusion by pianist Omri Mor with Shlomo Bar, an oud recital by Prof. Tayseer Elias with mandolin player Shmuel Elbaz, and performances by oud player Charli Sabach with his sons, Itamar Doari, oud player Dr. Wassim Odeh, and opera singer Nor Darwish.
Additionally, the program "Renew Our Songs as Before" will revive rare piyyutim from the tradition of Turkish Jewish Piyyutim singers, reconstructed from ancient sheet music. Choreographer Orly Portal's dance piece inspired by Farid al-Atrash's music will be presented, along with Sazland's tribute to Berry Sakharof's music through the Turkish saz instrument. Ticket prices range from 90 to 250 shekels.