Opera

For Lahyani, one of the near-miraculous aspects of opera is how the emotions the singers release on stage enter the heart of the audience instantly, in a never-to-be-repeated moment.

This piece had only been performed a single time since its debut, over two centuries ago, and it has a connection with Jerusalem

Originally performed in an all-girls school in London, the opera could be seen as an educational one, with warnings that young women should not trust men and their promises.

Shaham and the IPO will also be performing Bedrich Smetana Vlatava (Moldau), Dvorák’s Slavonic dances, and Richard Strauss’s Four Symphonic Interludes from his 1924 comic Opera Intermezzo.

The program includes a diverse selection of almost-certain hits, such as Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love), which will premier later this year.

The Encore Theatre Company in Jerusalem will perform the opera Patience by Gilbert & Sullivan.

The final scene of Salve Regina (Hail to the Queen,) during which the nuns embrace their fate and soar into  the inky heavens to shine like stars – was a marvel to experience.

“This whole show is, basically, storytelling. It is a story told through a story. But people come to see the music, not just to hear it."

There are Hebrew and English subtitles, the sound quality is better, and the Silver Screen offers a rich visual experience on an unparalleled scale.

The opera features an almost entirely female cast and offers a profound exploration of Catholic culture.