Jerusalem Lyric Opera invites audiences to embark on a mesmerizing musical journey with an exceptional lineup of performances. From the enchanting fairy tale opera 'Hansel and Gretel' by Engelbert Humperdinck, through a captivating operetta concert featuring beloved classics, to a grand exploration of Baroque masterpieces by Handel and Vivaldi, this season promises to be an unforgettable celebration of operatic art. With performances spanning from November 2024 to May 2025, music lovers will experience the magic and grandeur of opera in the heart of Jerusalem.

A Musical Journey: Hansel and Gretel, Operetta Delights, and Baroque Triumphs

The history of the creation of the fabulous opera "Hansel and Gretel" by E. Humperdinck is as fascinating as the opera itself. Once the composer`s sister, Adelheid Wette, decided to arrange a musical performance based on the fairy tale of the Brothers Grimm in the family circle and asked her brother to write four songs, to which she composed the words. The performance with the participation of the children of Adelheid caused a storm of delight among all those present, and Engelbert Humperdinck, inspired by this event, decided to create a singspiel. As a result, E. Humperdinck worked with such rapture that he wrote a full-fledged opera. One of the main directors of the opera was the young Richard Strauss, at the premiere he acted as chief conductor. The first performance of "Hansel and Gretel" took place on Christmas Eve, December 23, 1893, in Weimar at the Hoftheater, now better known as the German National Theatre. Children`s opera - a fairy tale made a splash! Since that moment, the opera has been constantly accompanied by fame and success, and the anniversary productions of "Hansel and Gretel", on the occasion of the anniversary of the triumphal premiere, have always aroused increased interest and attention of the public.

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Opera Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck

Jerusalem International YMCA

The opera "I Capuleti e I Montecchi" is one of the most popular in the repertoire of musical theaters. Bellini follows tragedy Shakespeare interpreted love and enmity as Rock, an element beyond man`s control. With "I Cpauleti e I Montecchi" Bellini entered his artistic maturity, demonstrating that he had found his true personal style with melodies of exquisite beauty and dramatic expressiveness.

V.Bellini I Cpuleti e I Montecchi

Beit Ha'am Cultural Hall Jerusalem

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) was the greatest composer of Italian opera after Giuseppe Verdi. The concert of the Jerusalem Lyric Opera in cooperation with the Consulate of Italy in Jerusalem with the selection of the most sparkling arias, duets, and ensembles presented by international and Israeli prime soloists will be a true musical feast for Puccini aficionados. On the anniversary of his passing in 1924 arias and ensembles from his famous operas will be performed.

Puccini`s concert

Join us for an unforgettable evening to hear the Jerusalem International Opera Competition Winners! This exceptional concert showcases the talents of the gifted vocalists. Music Center Mishkenot Sheananim will graciously host the event, adding an extra layer of authenticity and charm. Don`t miss this rare opportunity to witness world-class talent in an intimate and breathtaking setting.

JLOC Winner`s Concert

Jerusalem Music Centre

"Aida" is a four-act opera written by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi with Antonio Ghislanzoni setting the Italian libretto. The opera has been performed over a thousand times since it was created in 1886.

Verdi Aida

Jerusalem Theatre

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) is one of the great opera composers of all time. The music and theatrical force of his works continue to captivate audiences and musicians around the world. The Gala Concert of the Jerusalem Lyric Opera Festival will feature performances of Verdi’s arias and duets by the most talented soloists, creating a true musical feast for each and every connoisseur of music.

Viva Verdi

The young Romanian soprano Daniela Ciociea makes her Jerusalem debut and with the soprano Rivka Falk, Karin Faingold, Eden Almog gives the evening of arias and ensembles from operas of Verdi, Bellini, and Puccini.

Concert - Opera Arias & Ensembles

Harmonia Music Center

2024 will witness the centenary anniversary of Gabriel Fauré`s death (1845-1924). Rightfully considered the most advanced French composer of his generation, his highly personalized musical style, reflected in soulful modal melodies and a colorful harmonic language, greatly influenced subsequent generations of composers. Faure`s music "magically combines Monet’s liquid cool with the warmth of a Pissarro landscape". In the concert will be performed melodies of the composer, which "run like a silver thread through his entire oeuvre".

Gabriel Faure: Music and Poetry

Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art

2024 will witness the 300th anniversary of Georg Friedrich Handel`s "Giulio Cesare" masterpiece. On this unique occasion accomplished Handel interpreters as soloists paid homage to the composer by performing the repertoire from his operas.

Homage to G.F. Handel

Gerard Bechar Hall

Love songs, arias, and ensembles by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, and Bellini on *the most exclusive Square"* of the YMCA. Listen to the amazing music and admire the breathtaking view of the Eternal City.

Open Air Opera Concert: Best Arias and Ensembles

The first performance of the opera "Giulio Cesare in Egitto" took place on February 20, 1724, at the Highmarket Theatre, London, the libretto was written by N. Heim. The musical features characteristic of Georg Handel were clearly manifested in the opera - this is the courageous simplicity of melodies, the drama of arias, and the expressiveness of recitatives. Keeping the usual forms of the opera seria, Handel and Heim filled it with new content. In the center of events in this interpretation is not the image of the commander, but Cleopatra, depicted with ardent sympathy. The opera vividly recreates the atmosphere of intrigue, deceit, and betrayal that reigned at the Egyptian court.

Handel Giulio Cesare in Egitto

Tel Aviv Museum of Art

Humperdinck

Welcome to this year`s opening of the Jerusalem Lyric Opera Festival. The Open Concert is one of the highlights of the Jerusalem Lyric Opera Festival and features a collection of favorite pieces. All performers generously donate their time and talent for the Opening Concert at the Henry Crown Hall, Jerusalem

Gala Concert

The Jerusalem International Opera Competition – an opportunity of a lifetime! The jury consisting of internationally renowned opera conductors, singers and casting associates from some of the world`s top opera houses judge the participants` efforts. For the audience, this is a performance of favorite arias with the excitement of rivalry.

International Opera Competition - Final

The Jerusalem International Opera Competition – an opportunity of a lifetime! The aim of the competition is to provide career opportunities for young singers. Through exposure to artistic and casting directors of leading opera houses and festivals, with industry representatives, concert engagements and cash prizes, participation in the Jerusalem International Music Competition offers young singers a valuable kick-start to their careers.

International Opera Competition - 1st round

The soloists of the Jerusalem Lyric Opera will perform well-known and beloved opera ensembles by Verdi, Puccini, and Gounod, melodies from Lehar’s operettas “Die Lustige Witwe” and "Giuditta", Kalman`s “Die Csárdásfürstin”, “Die Zirkusprinzessin” and Strauss’s “Die Fledermaus”.

Festive concert "Opera, operetta"

"Alcina", "Les Contes d`Hofmann", "Magic Flute", and "La Cenerentola" -all these are immortal works of great composers written on a fairy tale plot. Since our formation, Jerusalem Lyric Opera has treated audiences to some of the most memorable stories of our time, many of which include fairy tales. From good wizards to enchanted knights, princesses, and wicked witches, let’s journey back to Once Upon a Time to explore some of the opera’s best-loved fairy tales.

Opera and Faire Tales

In the human psychic world, myths and reality are intertwined so closely that it is almost impossible to find the line between them. Our ancestors needed faith in the demons that threatened them and in the gods that protected them. Without the idea of some super-powerful divine being, our ancestors simply could not live. It is noteworthy that the first of these powers to be worshiped was a woman, the mother goddess. In the concert-lecture, we`ll follow the representation and development of the image of women in opera arts.

The essence of a woman in mythological representations and in opera arts

New Musical Center

The premiere of the opera Alcina by Georg Friedrich Handel on April 16, 1735, brought the composer unheard-of success. The plot of the opera is based on Ludovico Ariosto`s epic poem "Furious Roland". Alcina is a fantasy saga full of extraordinary adventures, where the sorceress Alcina deftly uses magical spells to bewitch her lovers. The last person to fall into her net was the valiant knight Ruggiero. The audience of the Jerusalem Lyric Opera Festival will have a unique opportunity to hear and see the true pearls of the Baroque era - "Verdi Prati", "Ah, mio ​​cor!" and "Mi restano le lagrime" - the most soulful arias ever created for the music scene.

Handel Alcina

Teatrul Evreiesc de Stat

Marc Devoto in his article “the Debussy sound: color, texture, gesture” spoke that everyone who knows Debussy’s music recognizes a distinctive ‘Debussy sound’ that is not a single quality but many; the sound of Debussy’s style in most of his works are harmony, instrumentation, texture, timbre, all to a greater or lesser extent. Debussy style is inherent the repeating phrases and phrase fragments and in combination with other features that we think of as characteristically sonorous, it is a trait that makes Debussy style instantly recognizable even on first hearing. This concert is devoted to melodies set to the texts by Symbolist poets. tickets 51

Debussy And His Lovers:music And Poetry

An operetta concert will feature a celebration of operettas with selected excerpts from "Die Fledermaus", "The Circus Princess", "Giuditta" and more. The show will feature opera lyric soloists and ensembles from beloved Viennese and French operettas including "Die Csárdásfürstin" by Kalman, "Giuditta" by Lehar, "Die Fledermaus" by Strauss, "La belle Hélène" by Offenbach.

Jerusalem Lyric Opera

Jan 15, 2025

Operetta Concert

May 14, 2025

The Triumph of Time and Truth: Handel and Vivaldi

Nov 21 - Dec 12, 2024

Opera Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck

Nov 19, 2024

V.Bellini I Cpuleti e I Montecchi

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Jerusalem Lyric Opera