Every 10 years, the very pro-Israel Makuya sect from Japan has sponsored a concert with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra - IBA to mark the unification of Jerusalem.
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MIRIAM SHAVIV, JERUSALEM POST STAFFSeiji Yokoyama 88 298(photo credit: )Return of the Makuyas
Every 10 years, the very pro-Israel Makuya sect from Japan has sponsored a concert with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra - IBA to mark the unification of Jerusalem. This year's concert on February 27 marks the 40th anniversary. Seiji Yokoyama will conduct the JSO in a program of Japanese, European and Israeli music with the participation of singer Shuli Natan, pianist Shinko Ogata and percussionist Tomoko Kusakari among others. The concert is at the heart of a visit to Israel by some 300 members of the sect that was founded in 1948 by Professor Abraham Ikuro Teshima. The Makuya are Christians who believe strongly in the Old Testament as well.
The sect's center is in Tokyo, and its members are estimated a few tens of thousands. They practice a pilgrimage to Israel particularly on festivals and during special Israeli events, and the young Makuyas are sent to Israel for their academic studies. The Makuya have two centers in Israel - one in Jerusalem and one in Kibbutz Heftziba. -Miriam Shaviv
The boys from Tolz
The renowned Tolz Boys Choir (TBC) conducted by its founder, Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden, returns to Israel for three concerts only, performing Johann Sebastian Bach's Six Motets, long- considered among the pearls of the Baroque. The tour is part of the 50th anniversary celebrating the establishment of the Common European Market.
TBC was established in 1956 in Bad Tolz, a town in Upper Bavaria. It is a secular choir that tours extensively in various ensembles, and has worked with most of the world's great conductors from Ricardo Muti to Daniel Barenboim. TBC first visited Israel about 10 years ago. This time around the choir will sing the motets a capella.
The concerts are sponsored by the German Embassy and Goethe Institute and will be held at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center (March 8), the Haifa Auditorium (March 10) and Henry Crown Hall at the Jerusalem Theater (March 11).
- Jerusalem Post staff
Seventy is looking good for Reich
The Tel Aviv Museum will celebrate the 70th birthday of Steve Reich with a concert of his works on March 10 at 8:30pm. An American-Jewish composer, Reich is one of the founding fathers of the minimalist stream of music.
This birthday concert is part of a worldwide tour for Reich's 70th birthday, but his Israel stop has special significance because of his recent reconnection with Judaism and Jewish philosophy (especially that of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz).
- Miriam Shaviv
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