Winter Concerts, Jan. 29, February 26, March 25, 2000
Shavuot - June 7-10, 2000
Sukkot - October 18-21, 2000 Abu Gosh Village (near Jerusalem)

Abu Gosh is an Arab village that was built over the ruins of the biblical town of Kiryat Ye'arim (Town of Forests). It was here (according to I Chronicles 13:5-8) that the Ark of the Covenant was kept for 20 years, before being moved by David to Jerusalem. The Romans built a large fort here and the Crusaders established a monastery that for many years served as a church and military headquarters. The village is located 13 kilometers from Jerusalem.

Concerts are held at one of four locations; the Kiryat Yea'rim Church, (which is the biggest, with 580 seats), the Crusader Church at the center of the village (300 seats), the Crypt (under the Crusader church, 150 seats) and outside, under the shade of pine trees. The churches of Abu Gosh have some best acoustics in the country.

Kiryat Yea'rim Church
Concert Time: 12 PM, 4 PM and 8PM during the Sukkot and Shavuot festivals.
Cost: $25-30
Concert last: 70 minutes

Crusader Church (concerts are only held here during Sukkot and Shavuot)
Concert Time: 4:15 PM
Cost: $20
Concert last: 70 minutes

The Crypt (concerts are only held here during Sukkot and Shavuot)
Concert Time: 2:00 PM
Cost: $17
Concert last: 70 minutes

Outdoor concerts: 12 -4PM, price $12, for all the concerts during the day. If you purchase tickets to one of the church concerts you'll have free entry to these outdoor concerts as well.

The festival features vocal music from the Baroque and Renaissance periods (primarily liturgical music) that is performed by Israeli soloists, choirs and orchestras. One of things that distinguish the festival, is its long-standing tradition of communal singing by the audience.

There is also a series of concerts held on the last Saturday of the month at the Kiryat Yea'rim Church
(11:30 AM), during the winter. The program for this year's concerts includes:

Carmina Burana - Carl Orff
Jan. 29, 2000
The Tel Aviv Chamber Choir - Michael Shani, conductor
Cost: $25

February 26, 2000
Handel - Concert no. 14 op.6, Laudate Pueri, J.S. Bach
"Jesu meine Freude"
The Tel Aviv Collegium Ensemble, Avner Itai, conductor
Cost: $25

March 25, 2000
Vivaldi - Gloria, Saint-Saens - Christmas Oratorio
The Ramat Gan Chamber choir, Hanna Tzur conductor
Cost:$25

Contact: The Abu Gosh Festival
02/534-1305 TEL
02/534-4126 FAX
mailto:agfestiv@inter.net.il

Ticket information:
Tickets may be purchased from the following ticket agencies:
Tel Aviv, Castel, 03/604-7678, 03/604-4725
Jerusalem, Klaim 02/625-6869, Bimot, 02/624-0896
Haifa, Graber, 04/838-4777