Friday morning a couple of weeks ago the Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv hosted a food market. From the look of it most shoppers were happy and content, and even more so when they got the surprise of their lives.

Among the shoppers were members of the Israel Philharmonics and its choir.

The noise level at such events is quite high, but the Philharmonics managed to quieten everybody when it struck up the chords and full version of Verdi’s Il Trovatore and Rigoletto.

I was not there, but saw the news broadcast in the evening. And when I saw the clip on YouTube, I knew I had to share it with others.

So let nobody tell you that Israel doesn’t have talent and initiative. Enjoy!

In 1936 Bronislav Huberman, a Polish born Jewish violinist and musician, foresaw the Holocaust. He persuaded 75 Jewish musicians in major

At home with Zubin Mehta

European orchestras to immigrate to Palestine and be part of the “materalization of Zionist culture in the fatherland.”

The opening concert of the Palestine Philarmonics took place on December 28, 1936, in the Levant Fair Hall in Tel Aviv, conducted by Arturo Toscanini.

From its very beginning The Philharmonics set the tone, not just musically, for traditions that still accompany it till today. World renowned conductors and soloists and singers were and still are attracted to perform with the orchestra. In 1940′s it conducted several tours through the Middle East, as well as performances for the Allied forces and the Jewish Brigade in the Western Desert.

When the State of Israel was declared on May 14, 1948 in the Tel Aviv Museum (today Independence Hall), it was the natural choice to have The Philharmonics play the anthem, HaTikva. It was around this time that the young Leonard Bernstein began many years of involvement with the Philharmonics. In 1950 the Philharmonics was on its first tour of USA, soon to be followed by its first European tour.

With Leonard Bernstein

Finally in 1957 the Orchestra received its own home, the Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv. It could now finally expand its subscriber basis, something that is still the backbone of the orchestra. New names, from Israel and abroad, attach themselves to the Orchestra, such as Zubin Mehta, who later becomes its Musical Director, or become almost permanent performing visiting artists, such as Yitzhak Perlman, Yitzhak Zuckerman, Daniel Barenboim, Jaqueline de Pre, Placido Domingo and many many others.

The orchestra has and still continues its tradition of performing not only to its subscribers in Israel, but also travels extensively throughout the world. It has over the years made many recordings, and continues to experiment and renew itself. In the 1990′ it began a new tradition
of working with some of the best Israeli non-classical performers and composers.

For a much longer and more detailed description of the history and achievements of the Israel Philarmonic Orchestra, please follow this link straight to the Orchestra’s website in English.

For a much longer and more detailed description of the history and achievements of the Israel Philarmonic Orchestra

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