The 11th annual Ushpizin Music Festival will return to Ashdod this autumn, bringing a massive lineup of Israeli rock royalty, international performers, and high-profile theater productions.
The week-long cultural celebration will run during the intermediate days of Sukkot, from September 24 until October 1, across three of the city’s premier cultural venues: the Ashdod Amphitheater, the Performing Arts Center, and Yad Labanim.
The festival’s biggest blockbuster nights will take place under the stars at the Ashdod Amphitheater. On September 29, Israeli music heavyweights Evyatar Banai, Amir Benayoun, and Berry Sakharof will share the stage for a massive triple-threat lineup. The rock marathon continues the following evening with a powerhouse roster featuring pioneering rocker Shalom Hanoch, ’90s alternative icons Eifa HaYeled, and punk-rock legend Rami Fortis.
Opera, classical music and international performers come to Ashdod
The Ashdod Performing Arts Center will host a diverse array of global and classical events, kicking off early on September 24 with the prestigious final round of the 18th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition.
Opera lovers can look forward to a fully staged production of Verdi’s La Traviata on September 27, performed by the Ashdod Chamber Opera Orchestra, the Tel Aviv Philharmonic Choir, and a lineup of international soloists under the baton of Vag (Vahagn) Papian.
The international momentum continues on September 28 with a performance by Paraguayan ensemble Los Muchachos Paraguayos, led by Juan Luis Alberto Amarilla. The group will be joined by Paraguayan-Israeli harpist David Karlsberg.
Rounding out the venue’s schedule, the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra Ashdod will present a nostalgic “Israeli Soundtrack” concert featuring veteran pop star Avi Toledano on September 29, followed by a two-night run of the Hebrew Theater’s production of My Fair Lady on September 30 and October 1.
Yad Labanim hosts musical tributes, jazz and flamenco
The Yad Labanim auditorium will pivot toward storytelling and intimate tributes. On September 27, the venue will host A Girl Who Is Quite a Treasure, a musical celebrating the life and music of iconic Greek-Israeli singer Aris San, performed by Izakis and the Greek Legend Band.
Other highlights include a staging of the musical Loving Daisy; a celebratory gala honoring singer Shlomit Aharon for her landmark 60-year musical career; a night of American jazz standards and New York hits led by vocalist-pianist Amor Amosi Nissan and conductor Mark Tiktiner; and a fiery grand finale featuring the Remangar Flamenco Dance Company.