Choral Fantasy in Jerusalem

The second annual Choral Fantasy in Jerusalem Festival will take place at the YMCA between October 31 and November 2.

By BARRY DAVIS
violin 370 (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
violin 370
(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The second annual Choral Fantasy in Jerusalem Festival will take place at the YMCA between October 31 and November 2.
The three-day program includes a wide range of concerts, with a variety of material from over the past 500 years, from Baroque to contemporary classical, jazz-oriented songs and numbers from the Israeli songbook.
The performers, too, span a wide age group with the opening slot featuring several children’s choruses from around Jerusalem, with the Efroni Choir from the Hefer Valley and Nathalie Goldberg conducting.
The “Schubert’s Fourth and More” concert will offer the audience a wide selection of aural entertainment, and will include works by Mendelssohn and Schubert, as well six Ladino songs by contemporary Israeli composer Paul Ben-Haim, a composition for piano and choir by Oded Zehavi, who will also perform conducting duties in the show.
Artistic director Oded Shomrony will also be on vocal duty, as part of the Thalamus Vocal Quartet’s “The Voice of Colors.” The foursome will present a program of Renaissance, Israeli and American songs, and the Jerusalem Academy Chamber Choir, under conductor Stanley Sperber, will also perform a highly varied repertoire that ranges from late 15th century/early 16th century English composer William Byrd, and late 17th century compatriot Henry Purcell, to 20th century British composer Benjamin Britten and 91-year-old Israeli composer Yehezkel Braun.
There will also be short free afternoon slots in the YMCA lobby, and a bell ringing- choral synergy at 7 p.m. on October 31 and November 2, with Gaby Shefler doing the honors in the bell tower and the Efroni choir singing outside in front of the building entrance.
Free admission for school students, university students and soldiers, capacity allowing.
For tickets and information: www.ymca-fantasy.com