Concert marks end of Polish Year events in Israel

"The Polish government and the Israeli Postal Company issued a common stamp, featuring the famous Polish Jewish freedom fighter Berek Joselewicz, who commanded the first Jewish military formation in modern history and was a colonel in the Polish army during the uprising of Poland against imperial Russia in the late 18th century."

JERUSALEM/WARSAW (EJP)---A Chopin and Gorecki concert performed by the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra last Sunday in Jerusalem marked the official end of the Polish Year in Israel.

During the past 14 months a multitude of cultural events, exhibitions, performances and various art projects were presented to the Israeli audience by Polish artists, often in concert with local Israeli talents.

The Polish Year in Israel was a venture of the Polish Ministry of Culture and the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, coordinated by the Warsaw-based Adam Mickiewicz Institute, which aims to promote Polish culture abroad.

While the institute promotes Polish culture worldwide, the yearlong event held in Israel was unprecedented in its magnitude, as the Polish government made a special effort to strengthen Poland’s ties with the people of Israel and to present them with a more wholesome view of Poland today.

The opening event, performed in April 2008, was a premiere production of 'Madame Butterfly' directed by Polish Mariusz Trelinski, conducted by Daniel Inbal of the Israeli Opera and performed by various local Israeli talents.

The opening events were attended by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

The joint Israeli–Polish productions continued throughout the year featuring some notable names such as the Israeli Habima Drama Company, performing together with the Wspolczesny Theatre from Wroclaw.

The cultural events were enthusiastically received by the Israeli audience, with theatre and opera halls overcrowded with visitors during many of the shows.

To mark the end of the year of events, the Polish government and the Israeli Postal Company issued a common stamp, featuring the famous Polish Jewish freedom fighter Berek Joselewicz, who commanded the first Jewish military formation in modern history and was a colonel in the Polish army during the uprising of Poland against imperial Russia in the late 18th century.

The Sunday’s closing concert was attended by Poland’s first lady Maria Kaczynska.

Further cultural cooperation between Poland and Israel is still to come. Next week, the Biuro Podrozy Polish theatre company from Poznan will perform an extravagant production of 'Macbeth' at the first International Theatre Festival in Tel Aviv.

Source: article by Gigi Luz in EJP

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