The Israeli Andalusian Orchestra or Mediterranean Orchestra is an award-winning Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

i orchestra based in Ashdod, Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

 founded in 1994. The orchestra is composed of around 50 musicians and lyricists mainly of Morocco

Morocco

Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...

n and Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

n origin and features traditionel Sephardic Jewish-Arab

Arab

Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...

 and Andalusian music

Andalusian classical music

Andalusian classical music is a style of Moorish music found across North Africa in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. It originates out of the music of Al-Andalus between the 9th and 15th centuries....

 and poetry, combining classical Arab-Andalusian and European instruments. The orchestra's artistic director and head conductor is Tom Cohen.

Since its establishment, the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra, which is financed by the Ashdod municipality and the Culture Ministry, has become an Israeli musical and cultural icon, touring in Israel, the United States, and European countries.

History

A first project to honor the heritage of immigrants from the Magreb which was to become the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra, was formed in Ashdod in December 1987, as a joint initiative of the liturgical singer and classical conductor Moti Malka and then-mayor Arieh Azulay, both of Moroccon origin.

Controversies

In 2009, the orchestra's affairs were marred by a labor-dispute that resulted in firing of all its musicians and suspension of its operations. After the dismissed performers had declared their independence, claimed ownership of their work place, and in effect dismissed the management, their struggle for government recognition and public funding met with success in February 2010, when the Israeli Ministry of Culture granted the orchestra recognition.

In October 2011 the orchestra bowed to pressure from religious

Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...

 subscribers and removed a concert from its subscription series featuring female singer Francoise Atlan

Françoise Atlan

Françoise Atlan is a French singer, born in a Sephardic Jewish family in Narbonne 27 July 1964. Her father was a counselor native of Béjaïa in Kabylia and her mother was a pianist and a lyrical singer.-Musical learning:...

. According to Haaretz

Haaretz

Haaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...

, some concertgoers threatened to cancel their subscriptions if the concert was not removed from the series.

Awards

In 2006, the orchestra was awarded the Israel Prize

Israel Prize

The Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is largely regarded as the state's highest honor. It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the...

, for its lifetime achievement and special contribution to society and the State.

External links

• התזמורת האנדלוסית הים-תיכונית - Profile in English. Israeli Andalusian Orchestra website
• Orchestre Andalou d'Israel - CDs. Magda Records
• Orchestre Andalou d'Israel - Videos
• The Life and Death Andalusian Orchestra. Documentary film. Directed by David Noy