In over the 50 years since I;ve been going to the Israel Philharmonic I never witnessed a concert that didn’t include a visiting performer, an old maestro, a promising violinist, a virtuoso…

Last night it was family night, where the Shani had his brother as guest, and performed Rhapsody in Blue while he directed the audience.  Two previously unperformed jazz pieces with the local Jazz orchestra, one classical piece including Israeli classics that dialogue with the subject of war and defense, and an intermission.

We left at intermission because Ezi had had an ear operation that day, and was not strong enough to withstand an undemanding concert.  Anyway we want to get back in time to see Romy Gonen explain what she experienced over a year in the cage in the tunnels of Gaza.

The concert was wonderful, especially when the orchestra began to sing two lines of peace in a  traditional folk song.  

But the absence of international participants reminded us of our isolation. 

I’m sure we will be learning from others as well, to participate in the universal dialogue of music, but there was something brave in conducting a local concert, in declaring our strength and patriotism.  

The part we missed – of the Nutcracker in the spirit of Duke Ellington – may well have been great – but i will have to wait to see what my friends tell me.