Arts in Brief: March 29

Munitz to receive Italian knighthood; Yamei Zemer Festival struts the stars.

Lake Garda, Italy 58 (photo credit: LEORA EREN FRUCHT)
Lake Garda, Italy 58
(photo credit: LEORA EREN FRUCHT)
Munitz to receive Italian knighthood
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has decided to grant Israeli Opera director-general Hana Munitz the highest honorary title in Italy, the title of commendatore. Munitz will be given the decoration in a ceremony on Tuesday in the residence of the Italian ambassador in Tel Aviv.
The commendatore title is given to persons deemed to have made a significant contribution to Italian culture. Its recipients are given membership of the Ordine al merito della republic (Order of merit of the republic), and the title constitutes a direct continuation of a tradition started when Italy was still a monarchy.
Munitz has already been honored by Italy in 2008, when she received the Pucinni Award by the Pucinni Festival, in recognition of her commitment to advancing the heritage of composer Giacomo Puccini among the Israeli public.
Munitz was listed by Israeli business newspaper Globes among the 50 most influential women in Israel in 2010.
• Jerusalem Post staff
Yamei Zemer Festival struts the stars
The annual Yamei Zemer Festival will take place at Holon Theater on Pessah, from April 20 to April 23. As usual the four day event will be chockfull of stars and intriguing projects which stretch across a wide spectrum of genres and stylistic approaches.
There will also be salutes to some of our iconic musical figures, including a show based on works by late legendary composer Mordehai Ze’ira, a concert devoted to poems written by Rahel – to mark the 120th anniversary of her birth – and a slot featuring songs made famous by Sixties band the Hayarkon Bridge Trio of Arik Einstein, Benny Amdursky and Yehoram Gaon, and later Israel Gurion. The rest of the Yamei Zemer agenda reads something like a roll call of the leading figures of the Israeli pop and rock industry, including the likes of Ahinoam Nini, Shlomo Gronich, Yoni Rechter, Sasi Keshet, Riki Gal, Ben Arzi, Hemi Rudner and Mika Karni.
For more information about Yamei Zemer: www.hth.co.il and 03-5023001-3.
• Barry Davis