The Israeli Opera, The Municipality of Jerusalem and the Jerusalem Development Authority
With the Assistance of the Ministry of Tourism
Are Proud to Expand the International Opera Festival
to the City of Jerusalem:
The Israeli Premiere of the Opera “Jerusalem” by Verdi
Gala Opera Concert with the Arena di Verona
Chamber and Coal Concerts in Special Sites in Jerusalem
June 2-6, 2011

Following the huge success of the first Masada Opera Festival in which the Israeli Opera presented Verdi's Nabucco by the Mountain of Masada last June, the Israeli Opera, the Municipality of Jerusalem and Jerusalem Development authority decided, with the support of the ministry of Tourism, to expand the opera festival this year also to the city of Jerusalem.
In this way the Israeli Opera and the city of Jerusalem join the international tred of summer opera festivals that take place all over the world in open air historical and archeological sites such as the opera festivals in Verona (Italy), Aix-en-Provence (France), Salzburg (Austria) and festivals in Turkey, Greece, Spain, England and many other countries.

The city of Jerusalem and the Jerusalem Development Authority and the Ministry of Tourism promote the positioning of Jerusalem as a center for cultural tourism and aim, as part of the cultural growth which started in Jerusalem two years ago, to encourage tourism to the area by adding cultural events in the city of Jerusalem in order to enable the city’s inhabitants and the thousands of Israeli and international culture tourists, like those who attended last year the performances of Nabucco, the extend their stay in Israel and enjoy additional cultural events, as well as visiting museums and historical sites at the capital of Israel.

Minister of Tourism, Mr. Stas Misezhnikov says: “The Ministry of Tourism, which I head, sees exceptional cultural events like this one, which enable people from all over the world to discover the quality of Israeli arts and culture, as one of he most significant means to advance tourism to Israel. And we will continue to encourage these events. The collaboration between the opera festival and the central tourism anchor of  Israel, the city of Jerusalem, is natural and obvious.”

Mayor of Jerusalem, Mr. Nir Barkat: “Jerusalem is proud to host the opera festival which is an extra step in the development of the capital of Israel as a capital of culture and tourism, just like many other capital cities around the world. The unique performances of the opera festival will color city in numerous sights and sounds and emphasize the amazing growth the city experiences. We greet the many national and international tourists who come to Jerusalem.” 

Israeli Opera general director, Mrs. Hanna Munitz: “The Israeli Opera is proud and happy to be a partner in magnifying the city of Jerusalem as a capital of culture and tourism. National and international culture tourists who will arrive especially to the opera festival in Jerusalem will support the glorification of Israeli culture all over the world.” 

The city of Jerusalem will host a wide array of cultural events that will take place in special historical sites all over the city featuring many Jerusalem artists side by side with renowned international and Israeli musicians.

THE INITIAL SUCCESS
In June 2010 over 30,000 opera lovers from Israel and abroad, came to the Dead Sea area and watched the first ever opera production in the place. Under a canopy of shinning starts, the majestic power of the Mountain of Masada served as a background to a huge "Opera House" which was erected in the middle of the desert. The production of Verdi's Nabucco enjoyed immense critical and audience acclaim from opera lovers from Israel and abroad. Actually it was the first ever time that Israel enjoyed cultural tourism with over 3,000 international tourists who attended. This year international ticket sales have already surpassed this number.

THE MASADA-JERUSALEM EXPERIENCE
This June, there will be a larger variety of performances for local and international audiences. The major event will be six performances of a new production of Verdi's Aida in Masada, conducted by internationally renowned Israeli maestro Daniel Oren. The orchestra of the Arena di Verona, conducted by Giuliano Carella will perform Verdi's Requiem in Masada and a gala opera evening with its own soloists in Jerusalem. David Stern will lead the first ever concert performance in Israel of Verdi's rarely performed Jerusalem, at the out door Sultan's Pool in Jerusalem. In addition special concerts will take place in Jerusalem churches. The grand finale of the festival will be a gala symphonic concert with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.

THE ARENA DI VERONA AT THE SULTAN’S POOL
The renowned orchestra of the Arena di Verona, Italy's leading summer opera festival, makes its Israeli debut and will open the festival on June 2, 2011 with a  special opera gala concert (Verdi, Puccini and Rossini arias and duets) in Jerusalem's open air Sultan's Pool. This opera gala concert will be conducted by Italian conductor Giuliano Carella and the soloists are soprano Svetla Vasileva, mezzo soprano Mariana Pentchava, tenor Stefano Secco and bass Louis-Ottavio Faria.

VERDI'S JERUSALEM
The opera “Jerusalem” by Verdi (written in 1847) will be performed for the first time in Israel on June 6 at the Sultan’s Pool in a special semi staged production accompanied by an exceptional display of lighting designed by Eyal Tavori. 
The story of the opera Jerusalem takes place during the crusades to the holy land. It opens in France, then takes place in the city of Ramle and finally reaches Jerusalem where the crusaders wait before their battle to capture the city. Nothing can be more symbolic than to perform this opera in Jerusalem itself. David Stern, the music director of the Israeli Opera, will lead the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, IBA, the Israeli Opera Chorus and international soloists including Scott Piper and Roberto Serville and leading Israeli soprano Ira Bertman in this performance. The production will be directed by Moshe Kepten, the artistic director of the Israeli Festival, and designed by Bambi Friedman.  

30 CHAMBER AND VOCAL CONCERTS IN SPECIAL JERUSALEM SITES Tourists to Jerusalem will be able to enjoy a very special musical Friday on June 3, when 10 different chamber-vocal programs will take place throughout ten various sites and churches at the old and the new city in Jerusalem. Sites will include the Dormition Abbey, the Tower of David Museum, St. Andrew’s, the Sisters of Zion Church in Ein Kerem, the Austrian Hospice and others. Participating musicians include The Israel Camerata Jerusalem Orchestra, the Jerusalem Baroque Orchestra, the Ankor Choir, the New Vocal Ensemble, the Bat Kol choir, opera singers and baroque musicians. Programs will include choral, vocal and chamber music works including concerti by Vivaldi, Bach’s Brandenburg concerti, Ave Maria concert, English Baroque program, songs by Italian opera composers, Misa Criolla and much more. 

Further details can be found at the festival site:
www.opera-masada.com
Tickets, shuttle rides and hotel packages can be ordered by calling
Bimot at 1-599-501-692 or *6226
Or at the Bimot site: www.bimot.co.il