East Jerusalem music festival opens

Annual festival sponsored in part by UN being held for 12th summer, includes acts from Greece, US, Germany, Palestinian territories; expected to attract around 7,000 people

Wednesday marks the opening of an international music festival set to take place in an amphitheater in east Jerusalem's 'Kings' Graves'. The festival is scheduled to last eight days, and will open with a performance by the successful singer Simon Shahin, accompanied by American and Israeli musicians.

 

Also to perform are singer Rim Bana, accompanied by Spanish musicians, the Greek Lakis Chalakis, and the Palestinian children's choir, in a joint performance with the German ensemble 'Colgium Musicum'.

 

The festival is produced by the 'Yavuz' society. Rania Elias, leader of the society and founder of the festival, said the event would be held this year under the banner of the 60 year anniversary of the Nakba (Palestinian day of mourning coincident with Israel's Independence Day).

 

The festival is sponsored by the French and Spanish Consulates as well as the UN. Last year the event hosted many international artists, including the well-known violinist Nigel Kennedy and the famous jazz guitarist Claude Barthelemy.