Chamber music descends on Eilat

The fully staged opera will be performed by the 12-year-old Le Venexiana madrigal ensemble from Italy.

By HELEN KAYE
Monterverdi's Orfeo is the headliner at this year's Eilat Chamber Music Festival from February 27 - March 3. The fully staged opera will be performed by the 12-year-old Le Venexiana madrigal ensemble from Italy with countertenor Claudio Cavina in the title role. This year also marks the 400th anniversary of the world's first opera. For the rest there's a wonderfully varied musical tapestry with works by both classical composers - Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Lizst, Chopin - and 20th century musicians, like Dukas, Milhaud, Janacek and Bartok. Playing these pieces will be the prize-winning Mahler Chamber Orchestra, founded 10 years ago by Claudio Abbado and today conducted by Berlin-born violinist Kolja Blacher, himself a recipient of the prestigious German Critics Prize for his performance of Shostakovitch's violin sonatas. Renowned cellist Mischa Maisky will appear with the orchestra with a program that includes Boccherini and Bruch. He'll also give a recital with his pianist daughter Lily that includes music by Rachmaninov and Franck. Other artists are the Arditti Quartet, our own Percadu, pianist Dejan Lazic and the Wanderer Trio from France. For those wanting to spend the full four days in Eilat, there may be a few places left.