Rita Kleinstein
Encyclopedia
Rita Yahan-Farouz is an Iranian
-born Israeli pop singer
and actress.
, Iran
. Her family emigrated
to Israel
in 1970.
. In 1982, she attended the "Beit Zvi" school of acting. Her first exposure to the general public in Israel was at the 1986 Pre-Eurovision Song Contest (known as the Kdam-Eurovision), which decided who would represent Israel in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest
. Rita did not win, but her song,"Shvil habricha", along with her provocative performance, garnered much interest. That same year, Rita starred in an adaptation of My Fair Lady
and released her self-titled debut album, Rita, which went triple platinum, selling over 120,000 copies.
In 1988, Rita released her second album, Yemei Ha'Tom (Days of Innocence), which was produced by her husband, Rami Kleinstein
, and which included a song by noted Israeli playwright Hanoch Levin
. In 1988 and 1989 she was chosen as Singer of the Year by Israel's national radio station.
, Rita finally got her chance to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest with her song Shara Barkhovot
(Singing in the Streets), but only achieved 18th place. After a brief hiatus, Rita returned in 1994 with her third album, Ahava Gedola (Big Love), which was also successful and led to a three-year tour around the country. Tahanot Bazman (Stations in Time) was released in 1996, consisting mainly of previously unreleased material.
In 1995, Rita Voiced Pocahontas in the Hebrew Dub of the Animated Film Pocahontas
. She Also Sang Singing parts in the Film.
In 1998, Rita was invited to sing the Israeli national Anthem Hatikvah
(The Hope) as part of Israel's jubilee celebration Paamonei ha'yovel (The Jubilee Bells). There was a minor uproar concerning the amount of money she would be paid, which seemed exorbitant to some, but she was finally convinced to perform following a call from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
. She reportedly donated her fee to charity.
In 1999, Rita released Tiftah Halon (Open a Window) which was also a great success, followed by Hamtzan (oxygen
) in 2003 which was less successful. In 2004, Rita played the role of Roxie Hart in an adaptation of Chicago
for the Beit Lessin Theater
.
After five years during which she didn't release any new albums, Rita released her 7th album, "Remazim" (Clues).
, and Israeli president Shimon Peres
. She sang her musical version to Bialik's poem Hachanasini tachat Knafeh and an aria in Italian. She released her new Persian
single
, "Shane", on June 22, 2011.
, with whom she has two daughters - Meshi and Noam. The couple performed together in 2001. On September 3, 2007, however, it was announced that Rita and Rami were separating.
See Also Persian Jews
Iranian
Iranian is of, from, or related to the nation of Iran .* Iranian or Persian people who are persons from the nation of Iran/Persia, or of Iranian descent...
-born Israeli pop singer
Pop Singer
"Pop Singer" is the début single from London-based glam rockers Rachel Stamp. It was released in February, 1996 through WEA. The single was released as a 2 track CD Single and limited edition pink 7" vinyl of 1000 copies...
and actress.
Early life
Rita Yahan-Farouz was born in TehranTehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Her family emigrated
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1970.
Musical and acting career
1980s
Rita began her career in 1980 as part of a musical troupe in the Israeli ArmyIsrael Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
. In 1982, she attended the "Beit Zvi" school of acting. Her first exposure to the general public in Israel was at the 1986 Pre-Eurovision Song Contest (known as the Kdam-Eurovision), which decided who would represent Israel in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
. Rita did not win, but her song,"Shvil habricha", along with her provocative performance, garnered much interest. That same year, Rita starred in an adaptation of My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe...
and released her self-titled debut album, Rita, which went triple platinum, selling over 120,000 copies.
In 1988, Rita released her second album, Yemei Ha'Tom (Days of Innocence), which was produced by her husband, Rami Kleinstein
Rami Kleinstein
-Biography:Rami Kleinstein was born in New York. He moved to Israel with his family in 1970. As a child, he studied piano and classical music. In 1988, he married the Israeli singer Rita, with whom he performed as a duo during their military service in the early 1980s. Kleinstein subsequently...
, and which included a song by noted Israeli playwright Hanoch Levin
Hanoch Levin
Hanoch Levin , was a prominent Israeli dramatist. He was also a theater director, an author and a poet, but he is best known for his plays.- Early life :...
. In 1988 and 1989 she was chosen as Singer of the Year by Israel's national radio station.
1990s
In 1990Eurovision Song Contest 1990
The Eurovision Song Contest 1990, the 35th in the series, was held in Zagreb, Yugoslavia on 5 May 1990. The presenters were Helga Vlahović Brnobić and Oliver Mlakar. Toto Cutugno was the winner of this contest with the song "Insieme: 1992"...
, Rita finally got her chance to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest with her song Shara Barkhovot
Shara Barkhovot
"Shara Barkhovot" was the Israeli entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1990, performed in Hebrew by Rita....
(Singing in the Streets), but only achieved 18th place. After a brief hiatus, Rita returned in 1994 with her third album, Ahava Gedola (Big Love), which was also successful and led to a three-year tour around the country. Tahanot Bazman (Stations in Time) was released in 1996, consisting mainly of previously unreleased material.
In 1995, Rita Voiced Pocahontas in the Hebrew Dub of the Animated Film Pocahontas
Pocahontas (1995 film)
Pocahontas is the 33rd animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and was originally released to selected theaters on June 16, 1995 by Walt Disney Pictures...
. She Also Sang Singing parts in the Film.
In 1998, Rita was invited to sing the Israeli national Anthem Hatikvah
Hatikvah
"Hatikvah" is the national anthem of Israel. The anthem was written by Naphtali Herz Imber, a secular Galician Jew from Zolochiv , who moved to the Land of Israel in the early 1880s....
(The Hope) as part of Israel's jubilee celebration Paamonei ha'yovel (The Jubilee Bells). There was a minor uproar concerning the amount of money she would be paid, which seemed exorbitant to some, but she was finally convinced to perform following a call from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
. She reportedly donated her fee to charity.
In 1999, Rita released Tiftah Halon (Open a Window) which was also a great success, followed by Hamtzan (oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
) in 2003 which was less successful. In 2004, Rita played the role of Roxie Hart in an adaptation of Chicago
Chicago (musical)
Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"...
for the Beit Lessin Theater
Beit Lessin Theater
Beit Lessin Theater is a theater in Tel Aviv, Israel.Established in 1978 by Yaakov Agmon for the Histadrut, the theater resided in Lessin House until moving to the old residence of the Cameri Theater in 2003....
.
2000s
In 2006, Rita put on a new show called One (in English) which ran for a month at the Israel Trade Fairs & Convention Center. Directed by Hanoch Rozen, it was a lavish affair including lasers, flamethrowers, 3-D images, smoke machines and forty dancers, acrobats, and actors. Over 100,000 tickets were sold.After five years during which she didn't release any new albums, Rita released her 7th album, "Remazim" (Clues).
2010s
In 2010 she performed in a special concert at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem, in the presence of Italian prime minister Silvio BerlusconiSilvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
, and Israeli president Shimon Peres
Shimon Peres
GCMG is the ninth President of the State of Israel. Peres served twice as the eighth Prime Minister of Israel and once as Interim Prime Minister, and has been a member of 12 cabinets in a political career spanning over 66 years...
. She sang her musical version to Bialik's poem Hachanasini tachat Knafeh and an aria in Italian. She released her new Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Shane", on June 22, 2011.
Personal life
Rita was married to the popular singer, composer, and keyboardist Rami KleinsteinRami Kleinstein
-Biography:Rami Kleinstein was born in New York. He moved to Israel with his family in 1970. As a child, he studied piano and classical music. In 1988, he married the Israeli singer Rita, with whom he performed as a duo during their military service in the early 1980s. Kleinstein subsequently...
, with whom she has two daughters - Meshi and Noam. The couple performed together in 2001. On September 3, 2007, however, it was announced that Rita and Rami were separating.
Discography
| Year | Album | Translation | Israel Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Rita | 4x Platinum | |
| 1987 | Breaking Those Walls | Gold | |
| 1988 | Yamey Ha-Tom | The Days of Innocence | 5x Gold |
| 1994 | Ahava Gdola | A Great Love | 4x Platinum |
| 1996 | Tahanot BaZman | Stages in Time | 2x Platinum |
| 1999 | Tiftah Halon | Open a Window | 2x Platinum |
| 2000 | Time for Peace | Gold | |
| 2001 | Rita & Rami On Stage | 5x Gold | |
| 2003 | Hamtsan | Oxygen | Gold |
| 2007 | One Live | Gold | |
| 2008 | Remazim | Clues | Platinum |
See Also Persian Jews
Persian Jews
Persian Jews , are Jews historically associated with Iran, traditionally known as Persia in Western sources.Judaism is one of the oldest religions practiced in Iran. The Book of Esther contains some references to the experiences of Jews in Persia...