A day at the opera with Mozart

This week Israel joins the festivities for the composer's 250th birthday.

By DIANE MESKIN
mozart 88 (photo credit: )
mozart 88
(photo credit: )
Spend Shabbat with Mozart this week as Israel joins the festivities for the composer's 250th birthday. The year 2006 has been named the International Year of Mozart in honor of the beloved Austrian composer, who was considered a musical genius by the time he was five. In light of his youthful start, it makes sense that the Saturday event, being held at the Israel Opera House in Tel Aviv, is not reserved for adults only, with a plethora of Mozart- and opera-oriented activities open to the whole family. Admission for the whole event (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) is NIS 35. At a quarter past each hour there will be performances of Mozart's arias, as well as scenes from Amadeus, the Mozart-themed play, and a Hebrew performance of The Magic Little Flute, a kids version of classic opera The Magic Flute. Dicussions by opera experts and historians might pique the interest of the adults, with discussions such as "Mozart and I" led by young conductor Dan Ettinger alongside Israel Opera coordinator Michael Ejzenstadt. Every space of the opera complex is to be utilized for the event, including the entrance, where minuets will be performed by professional dancers, while the side stage will serve as a story corner and coffee house. Stories about The Magic Flute will be told as guests drink their Viennese coffee. For more restless Mozart fans, there will also be a selection of interactive activities. These include singing workshops put on by The Opera Studio singers, as well as make-up and costume corners. Kids will also be able to learn how to cut their own instruments out of paper or other simple materials. Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Israeli Opera House, 19 Shaul Hamelech Blvd., Tel Aviv; (03) 692-7777; NIS 35.