Celebrate while you learn about the IPO's amazing history in this short film – online for a limited time
In less than an hour, a promotional film about the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra sails at a rate of knots through nearly a century of cultural history. Its aim is to open the pockets of potential donors, but it's likely to open their tear ducts as well.
The IPO reached the grand age of 85 years on 26 December, when the video – billed as a "virtual global gala" – went online (available for a month). If you know the IPO in name only, watch while it's available. You'll learn much about the organisation's activism on behalf of peace, fearlessness in its choice of concert venues, and stunning rise from life raft for persecuted musicians to the mighty, circumnavigating vessel it is today.
Leonard Bernstein being introduced at Be'er Sheva concert, 1948. Photograph by Bettmann
Drawing on archival material, documentaries, performance films and material from personal collections, the gala features footage of Leonard Bernstein conducting on Jerusalem's Mount Scopus after its liberation in the 1967 Six-Day War, long-time music director Zubin Mehta leading the Philharmonic at the "Good Fence" to an audience of Israelis and Lebanese, and the first to conduct the then-Palestine Philharmonic in 1936, Arturo Toscanini.
Lahav Shani, who became music director just in time for the Covid-induced collapse of the performance schedule, also features, speaking about how Mehta passed the baton to his capable hand and the rehearsal when the veteran maestro decided to give him the nod.
Palestine Orchestra (now the Israel Philharmonic)
Shani is introduced by multi-award-winning actress Shira Haas, who has appeared on our screens in Shtisel and Unorthodox, among other series. The 27-year-old acts as compère for the presentation, which is never certain whether it is being presented before a live audience. Sometimes there's applause, but not always when you'd expect it.
Haas is an engaging speaker, but occasional quirks of her near-perfect English are irksome. For example, her pronunciation of "maestro" veers away from the "my-stro" we expect to hear towards a Hebraicised, letter-by-letter recitation – not quite how Italians wield the word either.
Still, Haas covers the subject well, from founder Bronislav Huberman's success in persuading 75 Central European Jewish musicians and their families to move to mandatory Palestine, to the community-based and digital efforts the IPO has forged in the past year to continue reaching audiences. She also reaches in an emotional, believable version of "Maybe this Time" from Cabaret, with Shani accompanying (followed by applause).
The most convincing part of the show is the opening, a stirring 45 seconds of jump-cut scenes of Tel Aviv. Orchestra members in concert dress stand and play their instruments, framed by incessant traffic, tucked among entranceway pillars, backed by glass skyscrapers or perched on public artwork. Meanwhile, the city buzzes around them at a sports stadium, outdoor cafés, a graffiti-covered alleyway, a building site… These scenes emphasise the inexorable connection the IPO has to its hometown, the never-sleeping, brash, on-trend capital of 'Start-up Nation' Israel. It's time for tears of joy.
By Norm Guthartz
The Israel Philharmonic Celebrates 85 Years is available to stream until Wednesday 26 January on the Israel Philharmonic YouTube channel.