Israel Festival Is International Affair With Kiri Te Kanawa

(Photo: John Swannell)

"This spring the annual Israel Festival will celebrate its 50th year running. Outstanding performers from both Israel and abroad, many of whom have appeared at the multidisciplinary arts festival in previous years, are set to grace the stage during the 10-day event. Artists scheduled to perform at this year's Israel Festival - which will be held between May 23 and June 1 - include opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (of New Zealand ), the Merce Cunningham Dance Company (United States ), the Schaubuhne Theater company (Germany ), the Vakhtangov Theater troupe (Russia ), the Hagen Quartet (Austria ), the Florilegium early music ensemble (England ), Russian pianists Nikolai Petrov and Alexander Gindin, Panamanian American jazz drummer Billy Cobham, Israeli singer Achinoam Nini (also known as Noa ) and Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin with the Batsheva Dance Company - who will open the festival with a world premiere of a new dance piece." [Source]