Team Israel has provided the first pleasant surprise of the 2017 World Baseball Classic

 

 

“Earning a ticket to the second round along with the Netherlands after the Dutch's 6-5 win over Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.

 

Playing in its first Classic, Israel opened the tournament with a dramatic 2-1 win over host Korea, then poured an offensive outburst on Chinese Taipei in a convincing 15-7 triumph.

 

Team Israel is largely made up of Jewish-American players, several of whom have played in the Major Leagues. Though not every player is Israeli, any Jew is eligible for an Israeli passport, so Jewish-Americans are permitted to play on the Classic team, per tournament rules.

 

The players who make up the Israeli ball club became closely knit when they took a team trip to visit the homeland of their ancestors in January, and that chemistry seems to be translating to their success on the diamond.”

 

(By Oliver Macklin / MLB.com http://m.mlb.com/news/article/218437038/israel-earns-spot-in-second-round-of-wbc-2017/)

 

<TOKYO DOME >

Sun. Mar.12 at 12:00 : Israel vs the second winner of pool B

Mon. Mar.13 at 19:00: Israel vs Netherlands

Wed. Mar.15 at 19:00: Israel vs Japan

 

Schedule: http://www.wbc2017.jp/schedule/#pool-e

 

 

 

 

 

 

<TV Broadcasting information>

 

On air ：Tue. March 22 at 23:00 / NHK BS-1「NHK World Documentary」

“Princess Shaw” directed by Ido Haar

 

That was the story of Samantha “Princess Shaw” Montgomery, a hardworking nurse from New Orleans, Louisiana, who had suffered abuse but never lost her ability to dream as she posted videos about her life and her music on the free video-sharing channel.

 

By chance, she was discovered by Ophir Kutiel, an Israeli musician known as Kutiman, who found her during one of his endless trawls through YouTube, which he uses to sample and mix transformative mashups of YouTube musicians.

 

That wasn’t the end of the story. For it was Ido Haar, an Israeli filmmaker who knew Kutiman, who brought the unlikely pairing of Montgomery and Kutiman to life in his latest documentary, “Thru You Princess.”

 

Original title： Presenting Princess Shaw

Production： Ido Haar/Liran Atzmor（Israel　2016）

Article about the film「Times of ISRAEL」 : http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-princess-and-the-producer-a-youtube-fairytale/

 

 

More Info about TV broadcasting ：http://www6.nhk.or.jp/wdoc/backnumber/detail/?pid=170322

 

 

And Kutiman’s new disc is released in Japan now !

 

『6am』Kutiman released on March.8 by Tuff Beats /  2315 yen＋tax　(with bonus track / liner note by Masataka Ishida )

 

Many know Kutiman for his tremendous and innovative YouTube mash up project, ThruYOU, while others may recognize him for his 2007 acclaimed jazz/funk debut EP, or from his honorable mention in TIME Magazine’s 50 best inventions of 2009. Over the past few years, Kutiman has travelled to Krakow, Jerusalem, Tokyo, Riga, Tel Aviv and New York, to create original audio/visual montages of each city’s atmosphere.

Above all, Kutiman is a unique, soulful and organic musician who enjoys creating music under a wide range of styles. The first official album release off Kutiman’s own label Siyal Music will be kicked off with the much anticipated ‘6AM’. This follows Kutiman's 2015 critically acclaimed funk and free form jazz/afro beat EP ‘Space Cassava’ released on Siyal Music and his 2007 debut album ‘Kutiman’ released on Melting Pot.

The new album really does prove Kutiman has no musical boundaries; it is an album filled with psychedelic Rock n’ Roll roots, which dips into deep funk/soul grooves and even adds underlying influences from Africa and the Middle East. ‘6AM’ stands as Kutiman’s most song oriented outing to date, with strong melodies and unforgettable hooks accompanied by lush and rich orchestral sounds. One thing that unites all of Kutiman’s projects is that uncommon, low-key inventiveness that is responsible for making him a significant name on the world stage. Kutiman is involved with every step of the creative process, from playing and recording multiple instruments, designing original cover art, to last legs of production. Pitchfork describes Kutiman’s sound as “a psyched-up groove monster that can't decide between vintage and modern and instead just has it both ways”, a quote which undeniably fits his sound.

 

 

Kutiman (Ophir Kutiel)

Born 1982 in Jerusalem and grew up in Zichron Yaacov. Musician, producer, video artist, animator in the field of Alternative rock, funk, reggae, jazz, electronica, experimental, afro beat, psychedelic

He commenced piano lessons at the age of six and then learned to play drums and guitar at 14 years of age. When Kutiel was 18, he moved to Tel Aviv to study jazz at Rimon Music College. While working at a local convenience store in Tel Aviv, Kutiel discovered a college radio station that was playing genres of music that were vastly different from the classical jazz he had been accustomed to up until that point in time. Following this experience, Kutiman met Sabbo, another Israeli artist, who introduced him to Afrobeat and funk music, including the sounds of James Brown and Fela Kuti, among many others. As Kutiel's taste for music deviated from his traditional training, in 2003, Kutiman embarked on a journey to Jamaica, where he researched reggae and worked with both Stephen and Damien Marley.Kutiman is best known for his viral video/audio mashup online album "Thru You".             

 

 

Events in March

 

1.     Mahler, Mendelssohn, Mozart by Eliahu Inbal and Konzerthausorchester Berlin

 

2   Gesture, Sound and Movement in Traditional Jewish Music and Dance (Lectures, demonstrations, film and discussio

n)

 

3. Rony Oren’s Clay Animation Workshop in Tokyo Anime Award Festival

 

4.New Disc “Chorma” by Petros Klampanis

 

 

＊Other news

 

①  Israeli style breakfast at “WORLD BREAKFAST ALLDAY”

 

②  Jewish studies program in Asahi Culture Center Yokohama

 

③  Opera: Sempo Sugihara “Jindo no Sakura”

 

 

 

 

1. Mahler, Mendelssohn, Mozart, by Eliahu Inbal and Konzerthausorchester Berlin

 

Violinist Ryu Goto, with the Berlin Konzerthausorchestra under the baton of Eliahu Inbal, demonstrates his superior technical prowess and personal musical flair in a performance of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, considered one of the foremost violin concertos of the Romantic era. Also Pianist Ayako Uehara joins in a performance of Mozart's turbulent Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, a work admired by many composers who later wrote cadenzas for the piece.

Mahler's expansive Fifth Symphony closes out this grandiose program at Konzerthaus Berlin.

 

13.03. 19:00

SUMIDA TRYPHONY HALL

Richard Wagner,  Prelude und Liebestod aus Tristan und Isolde

Gustav Mahler,  Symphony No. 5

https://www.triphony.com/concert/detail/2015-12-000247.html

14.03. 19:00

GUNMA MUSIC CENTER

Felix Mendelssohn,  Violin Concerto, Op. 64

Gustav Mahler,  Symphony No. 5

Ryu Goto, Violin

http://takasaki-foundation.or.jp/syusaijigyou/concert_detail.php?id=42

 

15.03. 18:30

FUKUSHIMA ONGAKUDO

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Piano Concerto No. 20 K.466

Gustav Mahler,  Symphony No.1 'Titan'

Ayako Uehara, Piano

http://www.f-shinkoukousha.or.jp/ongakudou/?p=14431

 

16.03. 19:00

HARMONY HALL FUKUI

Ludwig van Beethoven,  Piano Concerto No. 5 op. 73

Gustav Mahler,  Symphony No.1 'Titan'

Ayako Uehara, Piano

 

18.03. 14:00

YOKOHAMA MINATOMIRAI HALL

Felix Mendelssohn,  Violin Concerto d-Moll

Gustav Mahler, Symphony No.1 'Titan'

Ryu Goto, Violin

http://www.yaf.or.jp/mmh/cooperate/2017/03/post-160.php

 

19.03. 14:00

THE SYMPHONY HALL

Richard Wagner,  Prelude und Liebestod aus Tristan und Isolde

Felix Mendelssohn,  Violin Concerto, Op. 64

Gustav Mahler,  Symphony No.1 'Titan'

Ryu Goto, Violin

http://www.symphonyhall.jp/?post_type=schedule&p=7466

 

20.03. 13:30

AICHI ARTS CENTER, NAGOYA-SHI

Ludwig van Beethoven,  Piano Concerto No. 5 op. 73

Gustav Mahler,  Symphony No.1 'Titan'

Ayako Uehara, Piano

http://m.hicbc.com/i/files/campaign/ongakusai/0320.php

 

21.03. 19:00

TOKYO METROPOLITAN THEATRE

Felix Mendelssohn,  Violin Concerto, Op. 64

Gustav Mahler,  Symphony No.1 'Titan'

Ryu Goto, Violin

https://www.geigeki.jp/performance/concert102/

 

22.03. 19:00

TOKYO BUNKA KAIKAN

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Piano Concerto No. 20, K.466

Gustav Mahler,  Symphony No.5

Ayako Uehara, Piano

http://www.tomin-gekijo.or.jp/lineup/music/2017/03/000634.html

 

 

Eliahu Inbal

Born in Israel in 1936. He studied under Messiaen, Ferrara and Celibidache. 1st prize winner of the International Guido Cantelli Conducting Competition. Made appearances with world’s leading orchestras. Chief positions were held, among others, at Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt (present hr-Sinfonieorchester), Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Teatro la Fenice di Venezia and Czech Philharmonic. Recipient of numerous honors including Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government and Goldenes Ehrenzeichen of the city of Vienna. Served as Principal Conductor of TMSO from April 2008 to March 2014. Appointed Conductor Laureate in April 2014. Numerous live CDs with the TMSO met with high acclaim.

（写真：Sverdlovsk State Philharmony）

 

２．Gesture, Sound and Movement in Traditional Jewish Music and Dance

(Lectures, demonstrations, film and discussion) with Professors Judit Frigyesi (Niran) and Walter Zev Feldman

The event is composed of four short lecture demonstrations, organized into two pair of lectures, and followed by the screening of a short film (13 minutes) and discussion.

The four short lectures/demonstrations treat the symbolism of traditional Jewish music and dance (lectures 1-2) and the concepts of gesture in musical and dance movement (lectures 3-4) within the traditional Ashkenazic culture of Eastern Europe. These gestural qualities are most evident in liturgical chanting and in the instrumental klezmer wedding repertoire and dances associated with it.

 

Gesture, Sound and Movement in Traditional Jewish Music and Dance

 

Date: Sat. Mar. 18 at  14:00～18:30　

Ve

nue: Meiji Gakuin University Shirokane Campus  ART HALL

 

THE STRUCTURE OF THE EVENT

 

I. Four short lectures relating to two topics – with dance demonstrations, images and sound recordings (afternoon)

Topic 1: Ashkenazic sounds and their symbolism (20-20 minutes):

1. The symbolism in Ashkenazic prayer (davenen as eternity, heterophony as eternal space) (Frigyesi)

2. The symbolism of Jewish wedding and the uniqueness of Ashkenazic instrumental music. (Feldman)

 

(short break)

Topic 2: The meaning of gesture in Jewish music and dance (20-20 minutes):

3. Jewish prayer and gesture (Frigyesi)

4. Jewish dance and gesture – with demonstration of dance (Feldman)

 

(long break)

II. Film and round table discussion (evening)

1. Screening

 

With interpreter. Reservation is not requ

ired.

 

In

quiry：Meiji Gakuin University Gengo Bunka Kenkyujo TEL:03-5

421-5213

More info：http://www.meijigakuin.ac.jp/event/archive/2017/2017-01-24.html

---------------------------------------------------------------

Yiddish Dance Session with Zev Feldman !

!

 

Mon. Hol. Mar.20 at 18:00 ～（17:30 doors open）

Theat

er-X(cai) (Ryogoku, Sumida-ku, Tokyo)

℡：03-5624-1181 http://www.theaterx.jp/access.php

Admission: 500 yen / free for under high school student

Music performance by Orchestra Dreydel http://dreydel.blog.jp/

Inquiry：ycra0916@gmail.com　　TEL:075-461-7670 or Theater-X(cai) info@theaterx.jp TEL：03-5624-1181

 

Walter Zev Feldman

Trained both in language/literature and in music/musicology, Walter Zev Feldman is a leading researcher in the music and culture of both the Muslim and the Jewish worlds. During the mid-1970s he studied with the legendary klezmer Dave Tarras, and his LP done with fellow-student Andy Statman--Jewish Klezmer Music (1979)--became a classic of the revival. Since 2011 he has been researching the background of Tarras’ music in the Republic of Moldova. Feldman is a teacher of Ashkenazic dance, and has taught both music and dance in Israel, Germany, USA, Canada and Abu Dhabi (UAE).  His new book Klezmer: Music, History and Memory will be published by Oxford University Press this year.

          

Judit Frigyesi

 a scholar and professor of musicology and ethno-musicology, poet, writer and photographer, associate professor of Bar Ilan University and visiting professor of Tel Aviv University, the Jewish Theological Seminary and the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music of Budapest. Her research includes the avant-garde trends and forms in 20th century in music, non-European music cultures and rituals, the expression of Jewish existence in traditional, Romantic and modern music and literature; the music of Bela Bartok and East-Ashkenazi liturgical chant and para-liturgical songs.

 

 

 

 

 

３．Roni Oren’s Clay Animation Workshop in Tokyo Anime Award Festival

 

Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2017 (TAAF 2017) is an international animation film festival organized by the Association of Japanese Animations and co-hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The Festival is run by the TAAF Office, established under the TAAF 2017 Executive Committee, with the support of various companies, organizations and individuals who endorse TAAF 2017’s objectives. The aim of TAAF 2017 is to collate and screen high-quality animation works of superior originality, provide excitement and inspiration to the audience as well as creators, cultivate new talent, and contribute to the development and promotion of animation culture and industry.

 

Festival Period: March 10 (Fri)-13 (Mon), 2017

Special Workshop of Live Clay Animation by Prof. Rony Oren

Date: Sun. Mar. 12 at 10：45～11：35

Venue :Kumin Hiroba HOYU（ 2-38-10 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo）

Adm

ission: Free

HP：http://animefestival.jp/ja/kodomo/

Rony Oren

a unique artist and an internationally recognized animator. Rony served as Chair of the Animation Department at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. Additionally, Rony has produced and directed over 500 short films and television series, a number of which received international awards. Among the series he has produced are The Egg, Foxy Fables,Tales of a Wise King, and Grabbit the Rabbit. These titles have been broadcasted in over 80 countries and on numerous networks including PBS, ABC, Disney Channel, BBC and Channel 4.Rony is a world class mentor in stop-motion animation and creation with clay.  Known for his distinct brand of fun and humour, Rony has directed countless clay workshops and classes worldwide.

 

 

 

4．

New

Disc

 

　“Chorma” by Petros Klampanis 2200 yen+ tax　by Inpartmaint

 

Motéma Music Debut, out March 10, features the Bassist/Composer’s Gifted Jazz Quintet

(Gilad Hekselman, Shai Maestro, John Hadfield, Keita Ogawa) with a Vivid String Section

 

Bas

sist/composer Petros Klampanis has absorbed a vibrant palette of colors over the course of a varied musical life journey, including Mediterranean and Balkan folk music of his native Greece, classical colorings of studies in Athens, Amsterdam and New York City, and vibrant splashes of musical pigment developed on the diverse NYC jazz scene through collaborations with such innovators as Greg Osby, Jean-Michel Pilc, Shai Maestro, Oded Tzur and Ari Hoenig.

 

On Chroma, his third album as a leader and Motéma Music debut, Klampanis explores the colors of human character, inspired by world events and personal experience. Chroma, the Greek word for “color,” masterfully employs a full spectrum of sonic colors to paint an introspective and emotionally daring artistic statement. His first large ensemble project melds the animated expressions of the composer’s jazz quintet (piano, bass, drums, guitar and percussion) complemented by lush, classically-arranged strings to create a near symphonic work of modern jazz.

 

 

More info：http://www.inpartmaint.com/site/19525/

 

 

 

 

＊Other News

 

1. Israeli style breakfast at “World Breakfast Allday”

 

This Gaienmae hideout is located next to the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, and serves all-day 'international breakfast', i.e. traditional morning grub from countries all over the world. The featured national breakfast plate changes every two months, with the regular menu consisting of English breakfast and a hearty muesli option. The drink menu features coffee and tea, a wide selection of world beer, and a variety of soft drinks.

 

WORLD BREAKFAST ALLDAY (3-1-23 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)

Israeli Breakfast is served: Tue. Feb.28  ～Sun. May. 7

Open：7:30 am - 20:00 pm  (Last order 19:30 pm)

More info：http://www.world-breakfast-allday.com/

 

 

2.Jewish studies program in Asahi Culture Center Yokohama

 

"The Jews are the people who have always survived the intersection of history, religion, ethnicity, and politics, and have created their own spirit and culture. So who is the Jew? How is that spirit shaped? The lecture series will approach this eternal question from each specialized field and analyses Jews in various ways "(from Center HP)

 

1. Recommendation of Judaism (General) (Professor, The University of Tokyo, Mitsuyoshi Numano)

2. Judaism and Christianity (University of Tokyo Professor Ichikawa Yutaka)

3. Judaism as seen from the language (Tokyo University researcher Satoko Kamoshida

)

4. Jewish Art - Music (Waseda University Professor Junichi Onuma)

5. Jewish refugees in Japan and Jewish problem (Tokyo University of Science professor Kenji Sugano)

6. Modern world and Jews (Professor of Japan Women's University Professor Usuki Akira)

 

Saturday: 15:30-17:00 4/8～8/26  (6 times)

Date:　 4/8, 5/20, 6/17, 7/15, 7/29, 8/26

Tuition: for members / 17,496 yen (need registration of membership)

Inquiry ：https://www.asahiculture.jp/yokohama/

 

.  Opera: Sempo Sugihara “Jindo no Sakura”

 

Opera " Jindo no Sakura (Sakura of humanity)" which was performed as the world's first performance at the Lithuanian National Theater in May 2015 with a great success, will be replayed.

 

Date and time: Saturday, March 25, 2017

Time: 14: 00 ~ / 18: 00 ~

Venue: Shinjuku Cultural Center large hall (6-14-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)

Admission:600~10000 yen

Inquiries: Tokyo Opera · Produce TEL: 03-3530-5181 FAX: 03-3530-5182

More info：https://www.facebook.com/%E6%9D%89%E5%8E%9F%E5%8D%83%E7%95%9D%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E-%E3%82%AA%E3%83%9A%E3%83%A9%E4%BA%BA%E9%81%93%E3%81%AE%E6%A1%9C-1516385761934304/

 

 

 

 

 

…Thank you for your attention and support to Israeli cultural events as always…

 

<Special guest for the month>

        

Mensch on a Bench (AKA the Mensch or Menschi)

 

“So, you’re the Team Israel mascot?

 

I would not put it that way. I don’t approve of all that dancing around on the field. That’s for the youngsters. I’m more of a spiritual advisor and all around friend. I offer a shoulder to lean on and at a push, a pillow if you’re need one. I’m also a very good listener.

 

What did you do in Brooklyn to ensure the win?

 

I can’t reveal all my magic, otherwise every other so-called Mensch will try (unsuccessfully) to replicate what I do, without doubt. What I will reveal is that it had a lot to do with the bottle of Manischewitz kiddish wine that was constantly by my side. The power is in the grape. The fact that I was also given my own locker in the club house, also increased my powers” http://www.baseball.org.il/en/

 

 

See you in the events !