0 SUZANNE CHESSLER Special to The Jewish News iolinist Itzhak Perlman with four klezmer bands, Zubin Mehta conducting the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, percussionist Chen Zimbalista and the Batsheva Dance Company have been invited to Ann Arbor to celebrate the 50th anniver- sary of Istael. The performers are part of a spe- cial series, Contemporary Jewish Cultural Expression in Israel, planned by the University Musical Society (UMS), and they will per- form at various times throughout the 1997-98 season. "We wanted to feature popular performance styles in Israel and show their diversity," said Michael Kondziolka, UMS director of pro- gramming. Kondziolka brainstormed with members of the Jewish commu- nity to select the entertainers. Planners include Carol and Irving Smokier, Ronald and Eileen Weiser, Herb Amster, Leon and Heidi Cohen and Maurice and Linda Binkow. "The UMS has had tremendous support from the Jewish community over the years, and this is a wonder- ful way of tipping our hats," Kondziolka said. I've never been in Israel, but I've seen all the acts." Perlman, in a program called "A Klezmer Summit," appears with the Klezmatics, Brave Old World, The Klezmer Conservatory Band and the Andy Statman Klezmer Orchestra, moving the show from tra- ditional sounds to a fusion of klezmer and jazz. The program is based on the Emmy Award-winning PBS television special "In the Fiddler's House," the audio recording of the same name, and a second klezmer music recording, Live in the Fiddler's " House. "The show will bring a reinven- tion of klezmer music to the concert stage," Kondziolka said. Suzanne Chessler is a Farmington The Klezmatics, together for 11 years, combine klezmer with today's most contemporary music forms and often address social issues through their recordings. Brave Old World has four mem- bers who began their klezmer revival in 1989, combining the classic sounds of klezmer with the energy of jazz. The Klezmer Conservatory Band follows the traditions of bands of the 1920s and '30s. Founded in 1980, the group brings Yiddish vocal and instru- mental music to concert halls and festivals and has made eight recordings. The film Enemies, A Love Story and the children's video The Fool and the Flying Ship show- case their music. Statman, who plays the clarinet and mandolin, has played for more than 100 recordings and was a pioneer of the klezmer revival of the 1970s. A composer as well as interpreter, he fuses tradition and innovation. "We have an ongoing relation- ship with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra," said Kondziolka, who points out that this season's con- cert includes a new work by Israeli composer R. Strauss as well as a Beethoven piece. The symphony, which celebrat- ed its 60th anniversary last year, counts more than half of its cur- rent members as native-born Batsheva Dance Company of Israel: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 21, and 4 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at the Power Center. Israelis, who are largely trained there. Also perform- ing are musicians who have emigrated from the United States and Eastern Europe, including more than 25 new arrivals from the former Soviet Union. A legacy of Israel Philharmonic training is found in Zimbalista's music, which features 40 drums, cymbals, marimba and vibra- phone. He also trained with the New York Philharmonic. Building on influences from the classics, jazz, blues and soft rock, Zimbalista describes his style as "a reflec- tion of the cultural and polit- ical landscape of my country." Besides appearing in Ann Arbor, the percussionist trav- els to other cities as part of the Mid East/West Fest, which offers cross-cultural exchanges between Israeli and American youngsters. Earlier this season, the Fest sponsored performances by the Tnuatron Dance Theatre. A different sense of dance composition comes to Ann Arbor with the Batsheva Dance Company of Israel. Founded by the Baroness Bethsabee (Batsheva) de Rothschild, the troupe has had a close association with Martha Graham. Current choreographer Ohad Naharin has built on the Graham aesthetic to forge originality with energy and passion. Although he began his training as a dancer with Batsheva, he continued his studies at Juilliard. "The visit by Batsheva is very special," Kondziolka said. "The work is very pow- erful, and there's an incredible solo for a dancer and gerbil. It's not just entertaining; it's moving. "The folk element is syn- thesized into a contemporary, expressive medium." ❑ Series tickets for the Jewish Culture Series range from $63-$150. Depending on the performance, individual ticket prices range from $18 to $50. For more information, call (800) 221-1229 or (313) 764-2538. niv6rsity.Musical Society programs, visit the organi- zation Web site at www.ums.org. A Cultural Celebration The schedule for the series Contemporary Jewish Cultural Expression in Israel is listed below: Itzhak Perlman and a Klezmer Summit: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, in Hill Auditorium. In conjunction with the performance, Wesleyan University Professor of Music Mark Slobin will present a lecture titled "The Spirit of Yiddish Folklore: Then and Now" 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, in the Kuenzel Room of the Michigan Union. 6. Neil Alexander, vocalist and leader of the Ann Arbor-based Klezmer Fusion 3 Band, will be joined by mandolinist Nan Nelson to provide live accompani- ment. Admission is free. Israel Philharmonic Orchestra con- ducted b Zubin Mehta: 8 p.m. Saturday,Ian. 10, in Hill Auditorium. Chen Zimbalista: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, in Rackham Auditorium. Top right: Conductor Zubin Mehta leads the Israel Philharmonic. Above: The Batsheva Dance Company: Energy and passion. 64i-li'fridFeabout the Hills-based freelance writer. 1997 95