ההרכב היהודי-ערבי
Shesh-Besh: The Arab-Jewish Ensemble
The Arab-Jewish Ensemble under the auspices of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra brings together IPO musicians with four of the finest musicians from the Arab community. The ensemble is a model of tolerance and mutual respect both on the stage, and in the classroom; performing classical music of the West and the East.
Players Alfred Hajjar (nay), Bishara Naddaf (percussion), Sami M. Khashibon (oriental violin) and Ramsis Kasis (oud) come from Christian and Muslim Communities in Israels Jezreel Valley. Yossi Arnheim (flute), Saida Bar Lev (violin and viola) and Peter Marck (bass) are among the IPOs leading players.
The Arab-Jewish Ensemble
The Arab-Jewish Ensemble frequently incorporates vocalists presenting repertoire in Hebrew and Arabic in addition to languages of the standard opera repertoire. In the past two tears vocalist Haya Samir performed with the ensemble, and on November 2006 she will join the ensemble in two special concerts for the IPO subscribers under the baton of Maestro Zubin Mehta.
The Ensemble often appears in schools, both in the classroom, and in concerts. In the season of 2006-2007 it will continue its educational work in the community.
The Arab-Jewish ensemble regularly embarks on tours abroad where it is accepted with great enthusiasm. Last year it performed very successful concerts in Kempten, Germany, and in Los Angeles, San Francisco and at the Berkshires in the U.S.A.
KulturPreis Europa's Tolerance Award to SheshBesh
The European Tolerance Award for 2007 was granted to the SheshBesh ensemble and KeyNote, the Program for Music Education and Community Outreach of the IPO.
The KulturPreis Europa (European Award for Cultural Achievement) has been awarded for 15 years by the KulturForum Europa to individuals and institutions who have contributed to the development of human rights, law, democracy and intercultural dialogue. Founded in 1992 by the former German Foreign Secretary Mr. Hans Dietrich Genscher, the KulturForum Europa is composed of Europe's leading politicians, scientists, artists and opinion leaders. The KulturPreis Europa includes a special Tolerance Award.
Click on the thumbs for large view
 Shesh Besh at the Mann Auditorium, performing at the ceremony of the Tolerance Prize Award, July 15th 2007 |
 Maestro Zubin Mehta introduces the Shesh Besh Ensemble |
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 Peter Marck receives the medal and certificate from Mr. Dieter Topp, director of the KULTUR FORUM EUROPA |
 Yossi Arnheim receives the medal and certificate from Mr. Dieter Topp, director of the KULTUR FORUM EUROPA |
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 Ramsis Kasis receives the medal and certificate from Mr. Dieter Topp, director of the KULTUR FORUM EUROPA |
 Sami Khashiboun receives the medal and certificate from Mr. Dieter Topp, director of the KULTUR FORUM EUROPA |
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 Alfred Hajjar receives the medal and certificate from Mr. Dieter Topp, director of the KULTUR FORUM EUROPA |
 Saida Bar-Lev receives the medal and certificate from Mr. Dieter Topp, director of the KULTUR FORUM EUROPA |
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 Maestro Zubin Mehta introduces Mr. Dieter Topp, director of the KULTUR FORUM EUROPA |
 Irit Rub, director of KeyNote, presents Maestro Mehta with the newly released CD of Shesh Besh and acknowledges the donation of Ed and Lola Jaffe for the CD's recording and the support of the American Friends of the IPO who made the KeyNote program possible |
Ahalan o Saalan
Any Israel Philharmonic youth concert that starts with the Arabic greeting Ahalan o Saalan is a unique event. Not only was the Israel Philharmonic featured, but also the Arab/Jewish Ensemble of the IPO, an opera singer who is as at-home singing Abdul Wahab as she is singing Mozart, and a student Darbukkah Ensemble that had the entire hall clapping and dancing.
KeyNotes East-West concert featured Western classical music on eastern themes; Camille Saint-Saens Bacchanal from the opera Samson and Delilah. Scherazade by Rimski Korsakov; Israeli classics, Alexander Boskovichs Semetic Suite and Mark Lavris Emek, and Middle Eastern classics like the Turkish Longa Shanhaz and a traditional Arab folk song Lamma Bada Yotathana.
For 2700 fifth and sixth graders, this was the climax of three consecutive years of exposure to classical music in the KeyNote program. KeyNote is the Israel Philharmonics education program which reaches 20,000 students every year. These children started attending IPO concerts in third grade and progressed through programs of Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart, to Pictures by Mussorgsky, Fiesta Espangnol, and Legends in Music. The KeyNote program specializes in introducing repertoire, first to the teachers, then in the classroom with small ensembles, all in preparation for the full orchestra concert.
Because 20% of KeyNote students are from the Arab community the concert was presented in both Arabic and Hebrew by singer Enas Masalha. She then went on to perform an aria from a Mozarts Marriage of Figaro, and in contrast, a traditional Arab folk song. She was accompanied by the Arab/Jewish Ensemble under the auspices of the IPO. The ensemble is comprised of 4 of the finest musicians from the Arab community playing oriental violin, oriental flute, oud and percussion, and 3 leading IPO members.
Bishara Naddaf, percussionist for the Arab/ Jewish Ensemble, brought his Darbukkah students from three schools in the Jezreel Valley. The children, both Jewish and Arab, performed solo on the edge of the stage, and then joined the Philharmonic in a performance of Bacchanal for the grand finale of the concert.
Watch a video clip from the concert:
