Masada: The mountaintop enclave near the Dead Sea is a fortress like none other, a place emblematic of the struggle and perseverance of a people. It was there that the Jews held out against the Romans, there that the definition of the word “resistance” was rewritten once and forever.
Today, Masada is a World Heritage Site – and from June 7 through 11 the site of a stellar operatic event: Carmen at Masada. Bizet’s masterpiece is this year’s production and the site is a specially-crafted Opera Village, one replete with a massive stage and sand dunes. Israeli maestro Daniel Oren conducts the Israeli Opera Orchestra and Chorus for this performance, a performance populated by international opera stars such as Anita Rachvelishvili and Marco Berti.
Carmen itself will be performed at the foot of Masada on June 7, as well as from the 9th through the 12th. We defy you to conjure up a more evocative, surrealistic setting for the masterwork. Some 50,000 people are expected over the run of the show.
June 8, also at the foot of the fortress, there’s a special concert showcasing the Idan Raichel Project. Raichel is an Israeli singer-songwriter known for his fusion of electronics, traditional Hebrew texts, Middle Eastern and Ethiopian music.
As of this posting, some tickets are still available. The demand for Opera in this stunning setting keeps on climbing. Consider 42,617 people saw Nabucco at Masada, and 45,600 folks were there for performances of Aida. Word is getting around.
As for air access there are great connections to Tel Aviv from the United States and Canada. El Al offers nonstop jets from Los Angeles, New York JFK, and Toronto. Delta flies nonstop from Kennedy too. US Airways lofts nonstop Philadelphia flights to Tel Aviv, and United offers nonstop Newark Liberty International flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: AM)
