Want to hear something sublime? Check out the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra sometime. (Actually, you can next month in San Diego.)
The group did a one-off for the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic the other night, who were honoring business bigwig Bram Goldsmith at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (in a theater that bears his name, no less). Conductor Zubin Mehta (sound familiar? He was Music Director of the LA Phil from 1962—1978) led the charge. The musicians played both “The Star Spangled Banner” and “HaTikvah,” the Israeli national anthem, before launching into an incredible concert featuring the music of Vivaldi and Dvorak for a crowd that included Holocaust survivors, former Governors (Gray Davis), and other notables like 20th Century Fox’s Stacey Snider and music exec Clarence Avant. Celebs included folks like Debbie Allen and Allison Janney.
After a concert that left a few concert-goers weeping (it was the anthems), the black tie crowd headed into a tented dinner while Mehta conducted another concert. He stopped by for dessert after the second performance. The clear tent provided stunning views of an illuminated Beverly Hills City Hall. The Mayor of Beverly Hills, Julian Gold, and L.A.’s Consul General of Israel David Siegel highlighted the partnership between the City of Beverly Hills and State of Israel, which are both working together on common challenges like water conservation, public safety, and cyber security.
