From concerts to art exhibitions to new films, here's what to look out for this week.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFGeorgian film ‘Corn Island’(photo credit: PR)
1 FILMKERNELS OF TRUTH Corn Island is a touching, almost wordless, Georgian film with breathtaking cinematography of landscapes that are politically sensitive. An elderly Abkhazian farmer goes to live on a deserted island in the Inguri River with his young granddaughter, who grows into womanhood.They plant corn around their newly built cabin. The pastoral habitat inevitably leads to a confrontation between the two amid the fierce cycle of life and nature. Directed by George Ovashvili. In Georgian with English and Hebrew subtitles.2 MUSICCLASSICS FOR THE PEOPLE The Israeli Camerata Jerusalem presents a concert that combines classical music with the songs of Shlomi Shaban. The singer-songwriter will perform with pianist Yaron Kohlberg and trumpet player Yigal Meltzer. Avner Biron will conduct.The program includes Shostakovich’s Concerto No. 1 for Trumpet and Piano; Shaban-Leonard Cohen-Bob Dylan; and Mozart’s Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467 (“Elvira Madigan”).Thursday at 9:30 p.m. at the Opera House, 19 Shaul Hamelech, Tel Aviv. For tickets, call 1-700-552-000.
3 BAROQUE IS A JOKE! The Ba Rock Band presents a trilogy of charming, light-hearted Baroque operas by Bach and Pergolesi. The humorous staging by opera director Shirit Lee Weiss turns the centuries-old witty texts and magnificent music into contemporary satire on the relationships and power struggles in today’s family, work and politics.Friday at noon at the Jerusalem Music Center, Mishkenot Sha’ananim. For tickets, call (02) 624-1041.4 ART THE RELIGIOUS SEARCH FOR PURITY A new exhibition by artist Pinhas Cohen Gan, winner of the Israel Prize for painting, present his works from 2011 to 2015, representing a synthesis and synopsis of his art. For the past four decades, the artist has never stopped studying the history of art, culture and science in a heroic Renaissance-like attempt to discover a supreme language of pure art. His continued search for identity and identification has brought him closer to Jewish culture in a process of connecting East and West.Open throughout the week from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Givon Art Gallery, 35 Gordon St., Tel Aviv. For more information, call (03) 522-5427.5 FIVE PHOTOS IN THREES Three photography displays are opening for Musrara’s Winter 2015 exhibition. The first is presented by three photographers who share the feeling of terror behind everything, the tension between the revealed and unrevealed and anxiety. The second presents Sharon Kana’s socialdocumentary of sports fields in cities, some abandoned, others intruding into people’s homes. The third is an exhibition accompanying a book launch about a Jerusalem artist and three of her family members who live in Germany, spanning a full moon’s cycle.Opens Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Derer Gallery, 9 Ha’ayin Het St., Musrara (Morasha), Jerusalem. For more information: (02) 628-6519; www.musrara.co.il.6 CHILDRENHOW A SONG IS BORNIn the first concert of the Magical Voices series, the popular songs from the book of Yehuda Atlas will be arranged for choir and orchestra, including such classics as “This Boy Is Me.” The puppet Kanon, together with the choir and conductor, will explain how songs are written, how feelings are expressed and how to adapt melody to words.Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Rozin Auditorium, 2 Drezner St., Tel Aviv. For tickets, call 054-225-7277.7 ITZIK THE CLOWNClowning has been a profession since the Middle Ages when every king had his court jester, whose role was to make everyone laugh. In Israel, veteran clown ItzikUzeri – Itzik the Clown– has been bringing joy since the 1990s with Michal Yanai on the Children’s Channel and more recently on 103 FM radio. This week he will perform at Mini Israel, where he will sing, domagic tricks and amuse the crowd.Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mini Israel. For more information: 1-700-559-559; www.minisrael.co.il.8 MIXEDBAG DAYS OF HUMORTo commemorate the death of Ephraim Kishon 10 years ago, The Kishon Festival of Humor will be held in various venues in Tel Aviv from January 19 to 31. The events will take place at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque, the Cameri Theater, Beit Ariela and one unique event at the Trumpeldor Cemetery, where Kishon is buried.The festival includes films, plays, lectures, a book launch and more.Begins Monday. For more information and tickets: www.ephraimkishon.com; (03) 624-4600.9 EN GARDE!The Israeli national team will participate in the second international knights sword fighting event. Seven contestants from France, Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Russia and Ukraine will engage in professional duels, dressed in full armor, using swords, axes and more. This thrilling, colorful sporting event will be followed by a musical performance suited to the Middle Ages.January 22 at the Sports Arena in Rishon Lezion. For more information: www.kravot.co.il; 052-815-0099.10 SINGING ARIK TOGETHERThe Nahsholim Hotel, in cooperation with the Rimon School of Music, will host a musical weekend based on the life and songs of Arik Einstein. The pubic is invited to a sing-along event, Don’t Want To Sleep, with the best of Einstein’s songs. With emcee singer-songwriter Osnat Harel and singers-composers Idan Haim David and Eyal Steinberger. Einstein’s lyrics will be presented on screen.January 22 at 9 p.m. at the Nahsholim Hotel, near Netanya. For information and tickets, call: (04) 639-9533.
