The Israeli Opera, which is celebrating its 30th season this year, will hold the fifth Masada Opera Festival - the largest international cultural event in Israel - presenting two masterpieces: "Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini and "Carmina Burana" by Carl Orff. The festival will take place at the foot of Masada over two weekends in June: June 4-6 and June 11-13. There will be four performances of "Tosca" and two performances of "Carmina Burana".

Following four highly successful productions in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and 2014,  the Israeli Opera Festival at Masada has earned itself a place on the international summer open air opera circuit and is the largest cultural and tourism event in Israel. The Masada Opera Festival has succeeded in becoming one of the leading international opera festivals in the world and has positioned the Israeli Opera as an important and significant international opera house.

The Israeli Opera returns to the foot of Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the lowest point on earth at the Dead Sea, with spectacular new productions of the two masterpieces. As in previous years, thousands of cultural tourists are expected to join the tens of thousands of Israelis who flock to Masada for an unforgettable experience in a unique setting.

The fortress of Masada serves as the backdrop to the opera, which is staged in a specially erected amphitheater and opera village on the floor of the desert. The clear desert nights, the cool breeze and the breathtaking views promise an unforgettable experience for opera lovers.

Dr. Uzi Landau, Minister of Tourism: "Events and performances of this type are an important vehicle for positioning Israel as an attraction for culture-loving tourists, combining ancient beauty with the modern world."

The performances of Tosca at Masada will take place on Thursdays June 4 and 11, and on Saturdays June 6 and 13, directed by Nicolas Joel, one of the most senior opera directors in the world. Maestro Daniel Oren meticulously selected a team of international and Israeli soloists. The international cast of soloists includes Bulgarian soprano Svetla Vassileva as Tosca, Italian tenor Fabio Sartori together with Argentinian tenor Gustavo Porta in the role of Cavaradossi, American baritone Scott Hendricks together with Russian baritone Sergei Murzaev as Scarpia, Italian bass Carlo Striuli as Angelotti as well as Israeli Opera soloists Vladimir Braun, Joseph Aridan, Oded Reich, Noah Briger and others. In addition, the Israeli Opera Chorus will be performing together with the Moran Children Choir and the Opera orchestra - the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon Le Zion.

The performances of Carmina Burana will be performed on Fridays, June 5 and 12 in a new fully staged production conducted by James Judd and directed by Michal Znanieck. The stirring creation by Carl Orff will take on a special character with the participation of a cast of hundreds of singers, musicians, dancers and actors, stylistic pyrotechnics and spectacular colors.  The soloists include soprano Alla Vasilevitsky, countertenor Alon Harari and Italian baritone Enrico Maria Marabelli. Also participating are the Israeli Opera choir, the Ankor Children's' Choir and the Opera orchestra - the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion.

This year's productions of the Opera Festival are the largest and most complex ever held in Israel and will employ 2500 people in addition to the 700 participants and operations crews.

The Masada Opera Festival is being produced in partnership with Arkia Airlines, the Tamar Regional Council, the Ministry of Tourism, the Dead Sea Hotel Association and Bimot. The sale of vacation packages for overseas tourists will be handled by Eshet Tours and Amiel Tours.