Laudamus Te (We praise you), the German orchestra and choir founded and directed by Monica Meira Vasques, will visit Israel in September for three free performances of the Oratorio Saul, composed by Handel in 1738; 10 September at Kfar Blum in the Galilee; 11 September in Ein Gedi near the Dead Sea and 12 September in the Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem. The celebration marks the 250th anniversary of the death of composer George Fridiric Handel 250 years ago. 

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The city of Nazareth just might be the selected venue for and additional Leonard Cohen's concert this September.  Ministry Director-General Noaz Bar Nir has approached Leonard Cohen (via the concert producer Marcel Abraham), asking that him to consider adding Nazareth to his schedule under the slogan "reconciliation, tolerance and peace", the same slogan he is used in marketing his September 24th 2009 concert in Ramat Gan, the final concert of his world tour. 

According to Bar Nir, it was brought to his attention that the singer wanted to play an additional concert in Ramallah, but this did not happen for a variety of reasons. After discussing the idea with Nazareth Mayor Ramiz Jaraisy, Bar Nir proposed holding a second concert in the city of Nazareth - Israel's largest Arab city and home to a 40,000 capacity outdoor amphitheater specially built for the recent visit of the Pope.

Deep in the heartland of Israel, in the area known as the Elah Valley, close to open fields and the JNF's Britain Forest, there is an old Turkish building which was once a Khan or way-station for travellers.

The building houses a musical family. The mother, Kochava Taragan, an accomplished flautist, arranges chamber concerts which are held on the terrace or in the large living room every Saturday at noon. Before the concert everyone is treated to a bowl of nourishing soup with home-made croutons. The chamber ensembles, often including Kochava herself, play a selection of pieces for an hour or two, often interspersed by some words of explanation. Sometimes the birds outside add their own contribution to the music. Afterwards most of the audience repairs to one of the local restaurants for lunch, though if you have not booked a table in advance you might find yourself obliged to go home. Great restaurants nearby include Pa'amon (meat) and Tavlin (Dairy). Both are located on Route 38, near Beit Shemesh.

Performances are held almost every  Saturday at 12:30 p.m., and soup begins at 12 p.m. The next performance is on March 27th.

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