Arts in Brief: June 13

The Cardigans bring greatest hits to TA

Sweden’s top indie pop export The Cardigans are on the comeback trail and in addition to summer festival shows in Moscow and Jakarta to mark their 20th anniversary will be including Tel Aviv on their itinerary.

The quintet, led by the sparkling vocals of Nina Persson, will be making their Israeli debut on August 4 at the Tel Aviv Exhibition Grounds.

Five years after forming and making inroads in Sweden and the indie world with their quirky sound, the band catapulted to international stardom in 1997 when their song “Lovefool” was included in the soundtrack to the blockbuster film Romeo & Juliet. 1998’s Grand Turisimo, with the hit “Erase/Rewind” made them even more popular but by the mid-2000s, the band members went on to various side projects, occasionally getting back together for an album or tour.

• David Brinn

Lebowski Fest rolls again

Following the success of last year’s first Israeli Lebowski Fest, a tribute to the iconic Coen Brothers film The Big Lebowski, Lebowski Fest II will take place on June 28 at Jerusalem’s newly renovated Jerusalem Bowling at the Lev Talpiot Mall.

Events include a screening of the film, starring Jeff Bridges as “the Dude,” a bowling tournament, a live band performing the hits of Creedence Clearwater Revival, a costume competition and, of course, a bar serving White Russians and beer. Tickets are NIS 60 for non-bowlers and NIS 90 including the bowling tournament. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and the events begin at 9 p.m.

• David Brinn

‘Rigoletto’ ends IO season

Verdi’s enduringly popular Rigoletto ends the Israel Opera’s 2011/12 season, playing at the opera house in the Tel Aviv performing Arts Center from June 30 to July 14.

Baritone Carlos Almaguer and tenor Stefano Antonucci share the title role with our own Hila Baggio and Slovakia’s Adriana Kucerova as his unlucky daughter, Gilda. Tenors Guiseppe Gipali, Jean Francois Borras and Given Nkosi alternate as that heedless rake, the Duke of Mantua. The stage director is Sir David Pountney, knighted in 1993 for his contribution to opera, and the music is performed by the Israel Symphony Orchestra – Rishon Lezion conducted by Daniele Callegari, making his local debut, and our own Daniel Cohen.

Because the story of Rigoletto is based on Victor Hugo’s Le roi s’amuse, a novel that portrays a king as immoral and licentious, Verdi had trouble with the Austrian censors because the censors were leery of anything that criticized monarchy, and northern Italy was under the Hapsburgs at the time. Verdi managed, the premiere was a hit, and the rest is history.

• Jerusalem Post staff

Print Screen at the Holon Cinematheque

Initiated and curated by Lior Zalmanson, Print Screen, now in its second edition, examines the ways in which the Internet influences our social interaction, and the changes taking place in cinema. Feature and documentary films that explore the ever-changing relationships between people and technology, as well as lectures, workshops, installations and interactive events.

Among the many offerings are an evening devoted to Black Mirror, screenings of Connected and Plug & Pray, and an evening on the changes the Internet has brought to the music world. There will be a Twitter screening of the cult film Mivtza Savta (Operation Grandma; 1999), directed by Dror Shaul, in collaboration with YES.

Runs today through tomorrow. Tickets for individual screenings are NIS 37-43, a day pass can be purchased for NIS 70.

For more info visit www.cinemaholon.org.il.

• Jerusalem Post staff