FILM 1. A LATE QUARTET
Members of a world-renowned string quartet struggle to stay together in the face of death, competing egos and irrepressible lust. Israeli-born Yaron Zilberman directs this compelling story structured around Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 131. The cast includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken and Catherine Keener.
In theaters around the country.
MUSIC
2. TAKE OFF WITH JORMA
Jorma Kaukonen may have taken off with the help of Jefferson Airplane, but he’s still flying high thanks to his own prodigious talent.
The 71-yearold Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist returns to Israel with an acoustic concert at Zappa Jerusalem tonight, Hemdat Yamim tomorrow night and Zappa Tel Aviv on Saturday. He will be accompanied by long-time Tuna collaborator and mandolin virtuoso Barry Mitterhoff.
For more information: www.zappa-club.co.il 3. HEAR PIANIST PERAHIA PERFORM
The Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra hosts one of the leading conductor/pianists of our time, Murray Perahia, for six concerts beginning Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. at Tel Aviv University’s Smolarsh Auditorium. On the program: Bach’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27.
For more details: www.ipo.co.il 4. MEET A PRODIGY
The Ramat Hasharon Campus Orchestra, with musical director Talia Ilan, opens the season with a concert featuring 15-year-old pianist-violinist and composer prodigy Ariel Lanyi playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5.
Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., Beit Yad Labanim Auditorium, Ramat Hasharon, (03) 548-3851, NIS 50 5. TAKE A HOLIDAY IN HAIFA
The Holiday of Holidays festival in Haifa returns to the city’s churches and concert halls with a rich and varied program that includes Mediterranean jazz and musical dramas, as well as the more traditional classical mass and Baroque concerts. There will be a Baroque concert at St. John’s Church (30 Khoury Street) on Friday at 8:30 p.m.
Handel’s The Messiah will be performed on Saturday at noon at the Greek Church (3 Haparsim Street). And there will be an international jazz concert on Saturday at 9 p.m. at Beit Hecht (140 Hanassi Boulevard).
For a full program and ticket information: (04) 838-4777; www.garber-tickets.co.il.DANCE 6. BE ENCHANTED BY A CLASSIC
Enjoy a beautiful adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet The Sleeping Beauty with the Israel Ballet Company this week.
Today until Sunday at Tel Aviv University’s Smolarsh Auditorium at 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Friday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (03) 640-5959. On December 20 at Heichal Hatarbut in Netanya at 7 p.m. NIS 189
THEATER 7. GET TO CLOWN AROUND
The eccentric Avner, one of America’s most renowned clowns, performs in Israel this week. Well known for his portrayal of The Jewel, the scene-stealing holy man in the film The Jewel of the Nile, Avner will perform on Sunday in Herzliya.
For reservations: *3221, (03) 547-5005 or www.pashbar.co.il 8. LOL
After eight years of sold-out performances throughout Israel and most recently Australia, the indie theater troupe Tziporela presents a new show that weaves together movement, music and slapstick. The show, in English, premieres on Saturday at 9 p.m. at Tzavta Theater, 30 Ibn Gvirol Street, Tel Aviv.
For more details: www.tziporela.com/worldwide.For tickets:
http://tziporela.e-tickets.co.il/ EXHIBITIONS 9. EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS
One of Israel’s preeminent realist painters, Israel Hershberg, has broadened the scope of his artistic production, moving from still-life and interiors to expansive landscapes, each panorama the result of a couple of years of painstaking work. In this exhibition “Fields of Vision: Landscapes by Israel Hershberg,” there are three large-scale landscapes and a preparatory study, produced in Italy and Israel.
From Tuesday until February 4 at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem
10. ENJOY ETHIOPIAN ENTERTAINMENT
The third annual Hullegeb Israeli- Ethiopian Arts Festival at Beit Shmuel in Jerusalem takes place December 20 to 27. The festival is the brainchild of Confederation House director Effie Benaya and is based at the Jerusalem venue. Opening concert: “Song of the Desert” with Din Din Aviv, Avta Brihon and Alon Yoffe.
Next Thursday at 9 p.m. For more information about the Hullegeb Festival: (02) 624- 5206 and www.confederationhouse.org.