At selected cinemas throughout the country.
FESTIVALOOOH LA-LA Moviegoers can look forward to the best of contemporary and classic French cinema, including premieres, documentaries and archive material. Festival guests include acclaimed actress Isabelle Huppert as well as James Bond villain Mathieu Amalric (pictured). The eighth annual French Film Festival will play in the cinematheques in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Sderot and Rosh Pina.Runs through April 16, www.jer-cin.org.il or www.cinema.co.il.MUSIC SABRA SOUNDS30-year-old Jerusalem-based rocker Tamar Eisenman’s brand of self-titled “hip rock” has been raising plenty of eyebrows – and moving just as many hips – since her first major label CD Gymnasium was released two years ago on NMC. Mixing hip hop production sensibilities with a sensitive singer-songwriter ethic and a not-so-hidden female punk side, Eisenman, who released an indie debut EP in 2003 and a first full-fledged solo album in 2005, has been performing since she was a child. Catch Eisenman as rocks the house at Beersheba’s Ashan Hazman. NIS 40.
Tonight, 9, Rehov Ringelblum 86, 077-764-4218.
BRING ON BARRYThere isn’t a musician in Israel who is as innovative as rock veteran Berry Sakharof. With each album Sakharov breaks new ground. From the slick pop of Hakol O Klum (All or Nothing) to the dark garage rock of Simanim Shel Holeshet (Signs of Weakness) to the electronic Middle Eastern stylings of Negiot (Touches), Sakharof has pioneered a style of Israeli rock unaffected by the standard folk musings of the majority of popular Israeli singer-songwriters. Catch the “Prince of Israeli Rock” as he performs a special concert accompanied by the 40 members of the Ra’anana Symphonette Orchestra.Wednesday, 9 p.m., Tel Aviv Opera House, www.israel-opera.co.il CLASSICAL CAN YOU HANDEL IT? The Jerusalem Symphony continues its Liturgical series at Tel Aviv’s Performing Arts Center with a special pre-Pessah concert. David Stern will be the conductor, with sopranos Claire Megnaghi and Avigail Gurtler and the Kibbutz Artzi Choir. The program is solely comprised of Handel’s Israel in Egypt. Like Handel’s Messiah, it is composed entirely of selected passages from the Bible, mainly Exodus and Psalms.Monday, 8 p.m., Tel Aviv Opera House, (03) 692-7777
MIXED BAGRENAISSANCE WOMANThe Tower of David Museum presents Ballad To a Woman: The Songs of Tirtzah Atar, a performance which opens a window into the world of a unique and multi-faceted poet, who in her short life wrote and published books of poetry, children’s books, and play translations. With Roni Alter, Yochai Blum, Osnat Zibil and Natan Slor. The show will be followed by a tour entitled “The Woman and the Holy City.” In Hebrew. NIS 50/60.Tomorrow, 11 a.m., www.towerofdavid.org.il.
WORD UPAlso at the Tower of David Museum, a celebration of words, letters and inscriptions within the ancient Citadel, and along its towers and walls every Thursday afternoon. Meet fascinating characters from the past, decipher inscriptions in ancient languages and tour the exhibition “Letters and More.” In Hebrew. NIS 20.Runs today through June 30, 5 p.m., www.towerofdavid.org.ilTOURFLOWER POWER The wild peony is a rare flower that blooms only on Mount Hillel in the Mount Meron nature reserve. Every year the flower blooms from the second week of April for two weeks only. For this special event, the public is invited to a weekend of nature tours combined with a Druse experience, including a tour in the village of Beit Jann, and later a tour on the Peony Trail.Runs tomorrow until Saturday, www.druze1.co.il EXHIBIT
THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPERThe Israel Museum presents a new exhibition of over 100 works on paper from the collection of Hungarian prince and art patron Nikolaus II Esterhazy, on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest. On display is a selection of works from what was once considered one of the finest private collections in Central Europe. The prints and drawings, dating from the 16th to the 18th century, include works by Italian, German, Dutch, and French masters such as Claude Lorrain, Hans Hoffmann, Nicolas Poussin, Rembrandt, and Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo.Ongoing until July 1, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, (02) 670-8952.UPCOMINGGETTING GROOVY WITH GILBrazilian musical legend Gilberto Gil will be going head to head against teen favorite Justin Bieber, when the two performers appear on the same night in Tel Aviv. Gil, one of Brazil's most important singers, composers and instrumentalists, has recorded over 30 albums and is synonymous with Brazilian music. He’s bringing his “String Concert” project, in which, together with his son and guitarist Bem Gil and cellist Jaques Morelenbaum, he’ll play acoustic versions of his top songs.Next Thursday, 9 p.m., Mann Auditorium, Tel Aviv.