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Category: Music

  • Classical Music

    If you want to hear really great classical music you don’t have to go all the way to Haifa or Tel Aviv. You can actually hear it right here in Safed at the Yigal Allon Cultural Center.

    Subscription Series

    Classical Music

     

    During the winter from November to March there is a subscription series of classical concerts held at the Yigal Allon. This series brings well known prominent classical musicians, such as members of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and others, to Safed for a variety of concerts. This means that locals and residents of the north can hear great chamber music without having to travel to the center of the country. This year’s players included Roman Rabinovich, the winner of the 2008 Rubinstein Competition in a piano recital.

    The Safed Music Festival

    This classical music festival has been running in Safed for the last four years under the impetus and guidance

    of Musical Director, Ada Peleg, the conductor of the Israel Virtuosi Orchestra. Held in July each year it offers a series of quality concerts which attract people from all over the north. Last year’s Festival included a classic version of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” as well as a variety of chamber music.

    Master Classes

    Every year the music festival has offered a series of Master classes and last year Safed was very privileged to have the distinguished British conductor Colin Metters presenting the classes.

    Ada Pelleg

    Ada Pelleg is a well known Israeli conductor and has conducted the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra as well as her own Israel Virtuosi Orchestra. She is also the Music Director of the Haifa Music Center and the Israel International Flute Competition.

    Ada is not only the Musical Director of the Safed Classical Music Festival; she is the driving force behind it. She plans the festival itself and she uses her personal contacts to encourage artists of an international caliber to come to Safed and participate in the Festival and the winter concert series.

    As part of her personal commitment to Safed and the Festival, she arranged for a really good Yamaha piano to be lent to the Yigal Allon Theater, which otherwise wouldn’t have a piano of sufficient standard

    She would like the Classical Festival to be as well known as the Klezmer Festival and by starting the subs

    cription series of concerts in the winter is busy building a local audience.

    She hopes to expand the Festival and the subscription series in the future but like most artists everywhere she struggles to get sufficient funding and sponsorship.

    Safed 2009 Festival

    This year’s festival is planned for July 2nd -4th 2009 and the program is still to be confirmed. Opportunities to sponsor or fund individual aspects of the program are still available and interested parties should contact Ada Pelleg direct. adapelleg@haifamusic.co.il

    For further information about subscription concert tickets or the Festival

    contact Michal 054 565 6056

  • Venues

    Apart from the Klezmer Festival when Safed is bursting with music lovers everywhere, there is no venue in town that puts on regular music gigs throughout the year. However, there are plenty of musicians in Safed and when the weather is warm you can often hear people jamming together outside in the squares and courtyards of Safed.

    Ascent

    The Ascent hostel, on Ari street, often has musical events as part of its overall program for visiting groups and these are usually open to the general public.

    Avraham’s Tent

    Avraham’s Tent is a small venue seating around 40 people which hosts a variety of music on an ad hoc basis, mainly during the summer. Located in a bomb shelter in the Artists Quarter near the Rimonim Inn Hotel, this venue gives local musicians an opportunity to play together. Musicians can also hire the venue themselves and put on their own gigs. For further information or to hire the venue contact Amram Cohen 0509 733 700

    Beirav Synagogue

    On Saturday nights throughout the year after Shabbat has ended, (except when not allowed halachically) you can bring your instruments and join in singing religious songs in the style of Shlomo Carlebach. The Beirav is also a venue during the Klezmer Festival.

    The Canaan Gallery

    On occasional Thursday evenings during the summer the Canaan Gallery presents a selection of traditional Middle Eastern and other ethnic music, including Ladino, in its licensed restaurant. They can host around 50 people and there is an admission charge. For more details contact Yair Moore 04 697 4449

    The Khan Of The White Donkey

    The Khan, which was a Turkish Inn in the 19th century, and is situated in the Artists Quarter, is currently being renovated for the Center for Healthy Living. Among other activities, they are planning to run musical evenings on a regular basis during the summer. With its own professional lighting and sound system, the Khan will be able to offer a range of music from classical, ethnic, and jazz, to world music. It hopes to be a venue that will attract not only local musicians but also people from all over the Galilee and the rest of the north. Able to hold up to a hundred people in an intimate atmosphere, the venue will also be available for private hire. For more details phone 054 323 9880

    Maximillian Cafe

    The Maximillian is planning to host regular acoustic music evenings on Thursday evenings during the summer in its courtyard.

    The Red Khan

    A 13th century building from the Mameluke period, the Red Khan is used as a venue during both the Classical and Klezmer Music Festivals. Holding up to 400 people, it is available for hire for community, private and public events. For more information contact zeevpearl@walla.com.

    Wolfson Community Center

    The inner courtyard is a venue during the Klezmer Festival and it is also regularly used during school holidays as a venue for various youth and music events.

    Yigal Allon

    The Yigal Allon Cultural Center is one of the venues for the Klezmer Festival and seats over 700. During the winter it also hosts a subscription series of classical concerts and has been the main venue for the Safed Classical Music Festival and its series of Master Classes for the last four summers.

    The parking area outside is also used as a venue during the Klezmer Festival.

    What’s On Now ?

    For information about what’s on: contact individual venues, look at posters and banners around town or check elsewhere on our website.

     

    Music Venues

  • The Music Scene Of Safed

    If you are hoping to learn more about the music scene in the city of Safed then look no farther. Here you will find information about the many musicians and musical acts in and around Safed and also get the inside information on the best venues for hearing Safed’s music performed.

    Safed's Musicians

    Safed Musicians

    Check out our articles on some of the most well-known and popular muscians in Safed like Banjo Billy, Chava Rachel Saban, Baruch Emanuel Erdstein and his band InGathering, Anat Edry, Diana Marcovitz, Eran Madom, Dor Deah, and Chaim Dovid.

    Safed Music Venues

    Also find out more about where you can hear your favorite Safed musicans play by checking out our articles on Safed’s music venues, classical music in Safed, Safed’s School of Music, and Safed’s music youth scene.

     

  • Klezmer Festival Tzfat 2018

    The Safed Klezmer Festival is back! This year, it will start on Tuesday, August 14 and run

    Klezmer 2018through Thursday, August 16. See the Safed municipal page for more details on Klezmer 2018. You can also check in with the official Klezmerim site.

    We will also keep you posted when we find out more details about the performers and performance times.

    For information by phone, call +972 4 692 7484/5.

  • Klezmer Festival 2017

    It’s that time of year again! This normally sleepy mountain town is about to become the place to hear the world’s best Klezmer music. For Klezmer 2017, the festival will be held from August 22 through August 24.

    Five Stages, Dozens of Musicians – all Free!

    Safed's exciting 30th Klezmer Festival

     

    This year, Safed celebrates its 30th annual festival and will host dozens of world-reknowned performers on five outdoor stages. And it is all free!

    In addition to music, the town transforms into a carnival with stalls selling local crafts, kids’ toys, clothing, delicious fast food and impressive fireworks every evening at 10pm. Wandering though the cobbled alleys, you are also sure to discover many street musicians playing impromptu music. You may even hear drumming till dawn!

    Check out the Klezmer schedule here.

    International Master Classes

    Starting on August 16 and running through August 22 are the International Master Classes. The classes are led by famous musicians who give local children an opportunity to learn with and perform with the best. The classes focus on classical music, ethnic Arab music and Klezmer. You can drop in to watch and at night, enjoy a free concert and jam session.

    Free Safed Tours

    The town also hosts free walking tours where you can learn the history of the town, explore archaeological sites and visit local artists.

    There is no better time to visit Tsfat. Just be aware that the police close the roads into Tzfat at 5pm on Klezmer days so get there early. Otherwise, you can take a bus in from two designated Klezmer festival parking lots.

    Here’s a sneak preview from a previous concert.

  • Tzfat Klezmer Festival 2016

    The 29th annual Klezmer Festival will be Monday, August 15, Tuesday, August 16 and Wednesday, August 17.

    Klezmer Festival 2016 in TzfatCome for the whole festival or for one night. This international festival is the largest Jewish soul music festival in the world. It attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year.

    During these three evenings, there will be non-stop music on several stages throughout the Old City of Safed. If you plan to come for Klezmer in Tzfat, book your accommodation soon as every bed in town will be taken! If you come for one evening and are driving up, you will have to park your car at a designated lot outside Tsfat and then take a shuttle. When you arrive, pick up a program of events and stroll from stage to stage. This year, we’ve counted 35 artists and bands who will be performing in 70 concerts on five outdoor stages….under starry skies in the cool Tsfat night, of course!

    Aside from three evenings of magical music, there is much more to do in Tsfat – for free! Check out the Klezmer Festival 2016 activities.

     

    Klezmer Schedule 2016

    Monday 15th August

    Time   Saraya –

    Outside

    		 Maayan Radum Kikar Sade

     

    		   Gan Ha Kasum City Hall Stage  
    20.30 21.30   Simply Tzfat Mosa Berlin Chanan Bar Sela Chanan Rosenzweig Kaitlin Klezmer Band  
    21.30

    22.30

    		   Kleibedik Adi Arad “Come in Peace” Cookie Siegelstein Trio Ita and Dov Zilberman Sonia Kreuter and Acoustic Drive Band  
    22.30

    23.30

    		   Daniel Zamir Mosa Berlin

     

     

    		 Chanan Bar Sela   Chanan Rosenzweig

    Meiron Melodies

    		 Klezmershpiel Arkady Goldstein  
    23.30

    00.30

    		 Yonatan Razel

    Hosts

    Daniel Zamir

    		 Adi Arad “Come in Peace” Cookie Siegelstein Trio Eric Sbabo ‘Tz’iokovlih’

    Uri Gorodski

    		  

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    00.30

    01.30

    		 Yonatan Razel Merlin and Paulina Shepherd  Simply Tzfat Trio Moldova Alex Moldovski

    Tuesday 16th August
    20.00

    21.00

    		   Gilad Efrat Aharon Razel Mirel Reznick Ita and Dov Zilberman Kaitlin Klezmer Band  
    21.00

    22.00

    		   Sonia Kreuter Klezmer Zichron Yaacov

     

    		 Aggadata Niflaot Trio Express  
    22.00

    23.00

    		 Aharon Razel Nir Sarisi Chords of Carlebach Mirel Reznick The New Time Ita and Dov Zilberma

    n

    		 Gefilte DriveAlexander Kottler

     

    		  

     

     
    23.00

    00.00

    		 Shimon Buscaglia Nir Sarisi Chords of Carlebach

     

    		 Cookie Siegelstein Trio Oded and Friends Sonia Kreuter and Express Drive Band

     
    00.00

    01.00

    		   Kol Israel  Merlin and Paulina Shepherd Klezmershpiel Arkadi Goldstein  

    Wednesday 17th August
    20.00

    21.00

    		   World Klezmer Stars

     

    		 Jerusalem Flowers Itzik Mayar until Mr. Shankar   Ita and Dov Zilberman Klezmer Shpiel with Arkadi Goldstein

     

     

    		  
    21.00

    22.00

    		   Sonia Kreuter Bea Sharon Mazal Girls Israel Zohar Zvi Gluzman Moldova Shpiel with Alex Moldovski  
    22.00

    23.00

    		 Ayal Shiloach

    Hosts Nir Sarisi

    		 Yehuda Katz Itzik Mayar until Mr. Shankar Ilya Vogelnik Michael Gorodetsky  

     

     
    23.00

    00.00

    		 Rami Kleinstein hosts Chanan ben Ari Dov Handler Carlebach Now Maalox Volume Tsfat S

    onia Kreuter and Acoustic Drive Band

    		  
    00.00

    01.00

    		 Rami Kleinstein  Yiddishkwit “Carlebach Melodies”  D. Gasan Trio  Merlin and Paulina Shepherd Vera Lu

    zinski and Frilax Band

    		  

     

  • The Klezmer Band That Stole Our Hearts

    The “Jewsers” from Croatia were a real hit at the Tsfat Klezmer Festival this year. They played three shows, and each time, they brought the crowd to their feet with standing ovations, dancing and encores. The band was more than pleased.

    “We have never played for a Jewish crowd before,” said Nevin Tabakovic, a renowned clarinet player. “We were so

    The Jewsers Klezmer

    surprised when people sang along,” Tabakovic added. “The audience actually knew the words.”

    A klezmer band that has never played to a Jewish crowd? Is this possible?

    Dinko, the band’s double bass player, explained that the Jewsers is the only band playing klezmer music in the west Balkans. The eastern European audience considers the music ‘ethnic’ and quaint.

    The band is based in Zagreb where there are scarcely 1,500 Jews. Prior to World War II, there were over 25,000 J

    ews living In Zagreb. “We lost many family members from our mother’s side in the Holocaust, says Ozren Tabakovic, the Jewser’s drummer. “We are very connected to Jewish culture and feel it is so important to revive it,” he added.

    Critics in Croatia regard the Jewsers as one of the best bands in the region. They have been described as innovative, and have played at some very popular festivals including the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, the renowned Lisinski Concert Hall and at many street festivals across Europe. They play a unique blend of jazz, blues, klezmer, Croatian folk music, gypsy music and Latin rhythms. Although they are always well received, the standing ovations they enjoy in Tsfat are extraordinary.

    Just ask Ines, the lead singer. She has been singing with the band for several years but has never been in Israel; that is, until this year’s klezmer festival. Wearing her cabaret-style black bolero hat with bright red lipstick and thick liner accenting dreamy eyes, she stole the hearts of the audience. Her rich, velvety voice brought everyone to their feet.

    “We can’t wait to come back next year,” said Mario Igrec, the band’s guitarist and one of the most talented musicians in Europe.

    ‘Vidimo se uskurom’ as they say in Croatian. See you soon, Jewsers. We all look forward to dancing and singing with this band at Tzfat’s Klezmer Festival in August.

  • Klezmer Schedule 2014

    Monday 18th August

    Time   Saraya –

    Outside

    		 Maayan Radum Kikar haMeginim

    non stop Carlebach

    		   Gan Ha Kasum City Hall Stage Kikar Sad

    eh
    20.30 21.30   Sonia Kreuter Israel Zohar Ita and Dov Zilberman Wonderful Anstenbul Klezmershpiel Daniel Zamir
    21.30

    22.30

    		   Ayal Sela Hagdata Fifth Season Yuri Berner Vlademir Friedman

    Pavel Levine

    Alexander Portnov

    		 Chilik Frank
    22.30

    23.30

    		   Ben Snof Klezmer Stars

    Vortsky Pass

    Stuart Brutman

    Joshus Horowitz

    Cookie Sigelstein

     

    		 Young William Tsfat   Nitzan Raisel Sonia Kreuter and band Dani

    el Zamir
    23.30

    00.30

    		 Yonatan Raizel, Guest

    Ayal Shiloach

    		 Klezmer Stars

    Alan Burn

    Yael Robin

    Guy Shalom

    Mark Kavnesky

    Savta Kondesh

    		 Fifth Season Eric Shebabo Amiel Avender,

    Accordian

    Pavel Levine

    Violin

    		 Chilik Frank

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Simply Tsfat
    00.30

    01.30

    		 Yonatan Raizel, Guest Ayal Shiloach Klezmer Stars Vortsky Pass Stuart Brutman Joshus Horowitz Cookie Sigelstein Jam Session

    Tuesday 19th August
    20.00

    21.00

    		   Yair More Young William Tsfat The New Time Emile Avender Camerathon Yoni Ganut
    21.00

    22.00

    		   Sonia Kreuter Trio Milkovsky

    Israel Poland

    		 Yehuda Katz Sigrolos and Strudel Arkadie Goldenstein

    Issac Kortz

    Alexander Fortnoff

    		 Band All Isr

    ael
    22.00

    23.00

    		 Ayal Shiloach,

    Guests Emad Dalel

    Amiel Ebender

    		 Brothers Ariel The New Time Sharon and Swing DaGitan Sonia Kreuter and band

    Alexi Grishkoff

    Alex Yaakovniko

    		 Klezmer Stars

    Vortsky Pass Stuart Brutman Joshus Horowitz Cookie Sigelstein
    23.00

    00.00

    		 Ehud Banai Trio Milkovsky

    Israel Poland

    		 Yehuda Katz Nava Aminoff Emile Avender Accordian

    Pavel Levine, Violin

    		 Klezmer Stars

    Alan Burn Yael Robin Guy Shalom Mark Kavnesky Savta Kondesh
    00.00

    01.00

    		 Ehud Banai Brothers Ariel Sharon and Swing DaGitan  Jam Session  Budapest Ke

    lzmers

    Wednesday 20th August
    20.00

    21.00

    		   Klezmer Stars

    Klezmer Party with Guest Budapest Klezmers

    		 Tsfat Music College:

    Eric Einstein Songs

    		 Iftach Dekel   Ita and Dov Zilberman Vladimir Friedman

    Pavel

    Levine

    Alexander Portnov

    		 Simply Tsfat
    21.00

    22.00

    		   Sonia Kreuter Moise Berlin Iftach Dekel Zvi Golsman Sonia Kreuter and band Wonderful Klezmer
    22.00

    23.00

    		 Ayal Shiloach

    Klezmer Arafsik

    		 Lechatchila Ita and Dov Zilberman Klezmer Stars

    Alan Bern

    Savta Kondesh

    		 Klezmer Shpiel Klezmer Stars

    Vortsky Pass Stuart Brutman Joshus Horowitz Cookie Sigelstein

     
    23.00

    00.00

    		 Ehud Banai Moise Berlin Ita and Dov Zilberman Oded and Friends  Boris Melkovsky

    Pavel Levine, Violin

    		 Wonderful Klezmer
    00.00

    01.00

    		  Ehud Banai  Lechatchila  Oded and Freinds Jam Session  Klezmer Stars Vortsky Pass

    Stuart Brutman Joshus Horowitz Cookie Sigelstein

  • Master Clarinet Classes in Tzfat

    Klezmer Festival Ignites a Fire

    The year 2009 saw the successful staging of the 22nd annual Klezmer Festival in Tzfat.

    Clarinet Classes

    Beginning in 1987, it was clear that the Klezmer Festival was an extraordinary opportunity for Jews of all backgrounds to gather in an open and festive atmosphere to listen to Jewish music and experience the magic of Tzfat.

    The festival draws some of the world’s top musicians, and from those early days, it also quickly became evident that serious students of music were drawn to the festival to hear the great artists and learn from them. Throughout the years, various venues wer

    e attempted to bring the musicians together with students who wanted to learn from them. At first, during the days of the festival itself, classes would be held in the mornings and the musicians and students would then give joint recitals in the early evenings, before the main stages of the festival began their own concerts.

    In 2004, a model of Master Clarinet Classes began which has been repeated yearly until the present. During the week following the Klezmer Festival, the master musicians, led by Giora Feidman, conduct classes for master clarinet students throughout the day, and the evenings are devoted to their presentations, which are open to the public.

    Artistic Director Giora Feidman

    The list of artists who offer these classes reads like a Who’s Who of the International Music World – Giora Feidman, Helmut Eizel, Hanan Bar Sela, Professor Geoff Blug, Albert Slutzky, Raul Taurano, Avi Avital, and Ava Asserman. Feidman is the artistic director of the week’s classes, and he is the one who most often performs with the students, which delights him. A native Argentinean, Feidman has been living in Israel since 1955, and after playing with the Israel Philharmonic for 20 years, left to help the development of the emerging Klezmer revival.

    Feidman’s vision of Klezmer revival, and his belief in new musicians who will carry on this work, has been the impetus for his championing the development of the Master Artists Classes each year in Tzfat. The classes, now an international event, bring young artists from throughout the world to Tzfat to learn clarinet and Klezmer techniques together, and the result has been an upsurge in the number of young musicians who play, perform and enjoy Klezmer music. This has been Feidman’s goal from the beginning, and the music world is grateful for his involvement in this project.

    The 2009 International Masters Classes for Clarinetists and Klezmer will take place in 2009 from August 19-24. The evenings of August 19th and 20th will have performances at the Saraya Building at 20:30 which are open to the public. Friday afternoon, a special pre-Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat will be held at the Abuhav Synagogue, and on Saturday night, a post-Shabbat Melava Malka will be held there. On Sunday August 23rd, the performances move back to the Saraya, and the finale is scheduled for Tuesday August 25th at 20:30 at the Saraya.

  • Klezmer Festival of Tzfat

    Klezmer Festival’s Beginnings

    Throughout the ’50s and ’60, and even into the ’70s and ’80s, Tzfat was known among Israelis more for its secular nightlife and bohemian Artist’s Colony than it was as a religious center.

    Klezmer in Tzfat

    Israelis came to Tzfat from Tel Aviv to walk among the galleries and enjoy the clubs and decidedly non-religious at

    mosphere. Many of Israel’s greatest artists either lived in Tzfat or maintained summer galleries in the town, and the people that they attracted were not interested in synagogue tours or Kabbalah study.

    By the late ’70s, many of these artists were quite elderly, and no longer coming to Tzfat to open their galleries. At the same time, more and more religious families were settling in Tzfat, and the city was slowly turning to a more traditional way.

    In 1987, Tzfat’s then-mayor, Zev Pearl, had a thought. He wanted to put Tzfat on the cultural map of Israel. He wanted to attract all Israelis to come to Tzfat. And he did not want to offend the growing religious population. So he came up with the idea of hosting a yearly “Klezmer Music Festival“. The music would be traditional Jewish Klezmer music, comfortable for the religious public, but “hip” enough to attract secular Israelis.

    Thus was born the Tzfat Klezmer Festival which, in 2009, will be celebrating its 22nd anniversary.

    Festival Set-Up

    The 3-night festival is set up on open-air stages throughout the city, and entrance is free to almost all the stages (there are generally one or two stages with paid performances). Anyone who is in the city when the roads are closed may wander freely….for people coming in after 4:00p.m., when the police close the roads, parking lots are set up outside the town and buses ferry people back and forth for a small fee, since Tzfat itself doesn’t have the parking capabilities to accommodate so many people).

    The stages are centered in the Artists Quarter and Old City, and schedules announce to the people attending the festival which artists are appearing when and where. Everyone has their favorites, and visitors plan their programs, insuring that they will be at the festival on the evening that their favorites are performing. Meryl Reznik, Musa Berlin and Hanan Bar Sela are three of the most sought-after performers, but the stages feature Klezmer bands from Budapest, Vilna and Germany, along with Israeli artists like Adi Ran, Boris Maglinik and Yisrael Zohar.

    Fans of Oaf Simchas and Aaron Raizel and other not purely Klezmer bands can attend performances by these artists, and, of course, Tzfat natives like Simply Tzfat, Dov and Ita Silberman, Dani Hadad and Meir Glazer of the Beirav Carlebach Minyan are well represented. In fact, one stage, at Gan HaIr, is set up as a center for “Carlebach Non-Stop” stage, although Carlebach music is not Klezmer, it is one of the most popular stages.

    The 2009 Klezmer Festival is scheduled for August 10th, 11th and 12th.