EL AL | Atmosphere

Magazine I The 2023 Israel Festival

This year’s Israel Festival is a fascinating exploration of the two opposing concepts of art and battle. Get ready for a deluge of concerts, plays, dance shows, and even podcasts, by some of Israel’s and the world’s leading artists and creators / By Anat Zecharia When art and reality collide

LAVAGEM by Alice Ripoll I Photo: Renato Mangolin

Fuck Me by Marina Otero I Photo: Diego Astarita

YAMA by Neta Weiner I Photo: Ella Barak

Minefield by Lola Arias I Photo: Carlos Furman

Music | the love and groove special

The 62 nd Israel Festival launches in Jerusalem on August 1 st . Ten days of cultural frenzy are set to light up Israel’s capital city, under the uniting theme of “Art | Battle”. According to the festival’s artistic directors Itay Mautner and Michal Vaknin, the “winds of reality” are the ones to have dictated the theme: “it may first seem as though a world of differences separate the so very opposite notions of art and battle; but in actuality, they form a deep-rooted relationship that is fascinating to explore”.

“Concepts such as contemplation, devotion, sacrifice, practice, and transmutation bridge the gaps between them, and innovative thinking, intense observation, and unconventional ideas are their driving forces”, they say. Big names and rising stars from Israel and the world are set to perform across three different locations – Ha’Atzma’ut Park, the Jerusalem Theatre, and the Jerusalem Arts Campus. Here’s an overview of the festival’s most noteworthy events.

The two music shows to open the festival will take place in Ha’Atzmaut Park. The first, “About Love”, is a Tu Be’Av celebration with kamancheh virtuoso Mark Eliyahu and many guest performers, including Rita Omar and Shai Tsabari. The following night, the park will beat to the sounds of New Orleans ensemble “Meshuleshet”, singer Tarriona Ball, aka Tank, Bangas, and performers Jasmin Moallem and Echo.

26 ATMOSPHERE AUGUST 2023