The Philadelphia Orchestra has announced a five-country tour of Europe beginning in May, which will also include three dates in Israel.
It will be the first tour of Israel by the orchestra in 25 years. Only three major American orchestras — including the Fabulous Philadelphians — have visited Israel in its 70-year history. After playing six cities (Brussels, Luxembourg City, Paris, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, and Vienna), the orchestra will end its overseas tour by jetting over to Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem.
Classical music in Israel is dominated by the Israel Philharmonic and its director of 40 years, Zubin Mehta. They both tour the States frequently, but they rarely get to play host to their American counterparts.
The Philadelphia tour will be led by music director Yannick Nezet-Seguin, a seasoned traveler who has never before been to Israel.