Mélange Oriental

A unique and exciting musical experience symbolising the spirit of the festival. Mélange Oriental is Sounding Jerusalem`s “Programme in Residence”, inviting the most outstanding festival artists to join the ensemble for a delightful sound exploration of Jerusalem’s Old City. Musicians from Europe and the Middle East are together tracing the multiple voices of the Arab, Christian, Armenian and Jewish Quarter, their various melodies and sounds in promoting the fascinating aspects of cultural diversity. This musical travel is building bridges between history and present times, between Orient and Okzident as well as the multi-faceted musical traditions. Mélange Oriental creates a multi-perspective sound fantasy about the vibrant melting pot Jerusalem’s, reflecting the city’s history and soul.

Mélange Oriental will be part of the programme of numerous festival concerts, varying in cast and musical litterature. The sound adventure will be enriched by pictures and projections of the Austrian photographer Christian Jungwirth, who designed his own collection of Jerusalem impressions, as well as by slide shows of the work of photographer Amy Lyne (USA/France), a study of poverty, with pictures of people from Angola, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Puppet theatre!

Workshops in cooperation with local educational institutions, featuring Christine Trausner & Andreas Milowiz
Fantastic stories are hidden everywhere around us, in the smallest objects. It’s up to you to discover and tell about! Two Austrian puppeteers take children and youth in 10 workshops with them on an adventurous discovery trip into the magical world of puppet theatre art. The basic skills of telling a metaphoric story through a puppet are mediated and tried out together. Puppets will be created by using basic materials or simple objects available in every home. Inspired by the festival musicians, the participants are challenged not only to express their ideas in words and gestures, but also to find out how to express their feelings through the music. Of course, Christine and Andreas will surprise the new puppeteers with a small performance especially for them.

We are looking forward to a joyful afternoon full of creativity based on Andreas’ philosophy: “Puppets are allowed to do anything and they are able to do everything and nobody can be angry with them…”

Christine Trausner (Austria)
Andreas Milowitz (Austria)

Christine Trausner (Austria)

psychologist and puppeteer at numerous children theatres in Austria, speaker on various children CDs

Andreas Milowiz (Austria)

lawyer, mediator, puppeteer, actor and acting teacher, founder of the puppet company Stuffedtights.