- January 11, 2026
- 11:52 am
- Israel
The orchestra “Lords of Sound,” mainly composed of Ukrainian musicians, is returning to Israel with a tour series from January 10–20. This is the ensemble’s second visit in a short period: last winter they already performed in the country, and according to the organizers, the demand then exceeded expectations.
The new concerts will take place in three cities — Jerusalem, Ashkelon, and Haifa. The geography is understandable: these are major cultural venues and an audience that in recent months especially appreciates “live” events — without a screen, without distance, with real orchestral sound.
Four different programs will be brought to Israel at once.
The first is “Hans Zimmer’s Music”: recognizable themes from major films that sound as cinematic as possible in orchestral performance.
The second is “The Lord of the Rings in Concert”: a fantasy epic that has long lived its stage life and attracts not only Tolkien fans but also those who simply want a big symphonic evening.
The third program is “The Magical Symphony of Hogwarts” with music from the Harry Potter films: focusing on atmosphere and nostalgia, which works stronger in the hall than in headphones.
The fourth is “Anime Sympho-Show – 38 Samurai”: intros and tracks from popular Japanese anime series, but in the format of an orchestral show. For the Israeli audience, this is also a rarity: anime sets in symphonic sound rarely appear here.
Why this tour is possible now
Producer Semeon Galperin, who moved to Haifa after the start of Russian aggression against Ukraine in February 2022, speaks directly about the main problem: due to wars, boycotts, and the overall toxicity of the region, many international artists are cautious and avoid touring in Israel.
However, he emphasizes, not everyone has stopped coming. Some musicians and projects consciously continue to perform — and consider it support for their audience, which lives here and does not want to fall out of cultural life.
A separate blow to the industry has already hit Israeli reality: after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the concert market practically “froze.” According to Galperin, the business then stopped completely, and the return is slow and uneven — some projects are launched, some are disrupted, much depends on the courage of the organizers and the willingness of the audience to buy tickets again.
Who is filling the halls in Israel today
Galperin explains that a noticeable part of the concert flow is now formed by Ukrainian and Russian musicians. Ukrainians — for understandable reasons: the war has scattered the market around the world, and tours have become a way of survival and preserving the profession.
As for Russian artists, it’s not about the “old stage,” but those who publicly oppose their state and hold an anti-war position. In this environment, there is a large layer of performers who travel to different countries — and Israel remains an important point for them precisely because of the audience.
Galperin gives an example: Noize MC concerts in Israel are sold out, despite the overall decline in international tours. And this is an indicator that the Russian-speaking audience here has not disappeared and is not “tired of concerts” — it is tired of emptiness and isolation.
“Justice and Mercy”: what people seek at such evenings
Galperin recalls Noize MC’s words at one of the concerts in Tel Aviv: that now the struggle is not only between good and evil but also between justice and mercy — and he personally chooses mercy. For the Russian-speaking community in Israel, such formulations are important not as a slogan, but as an attempt to talk to each other without mutual hatred.
Paradoxically, many touring artists also note the calmness of Israeli cities — especially Haifa and Tel Aviv — compared to the image of the country that lives in the news. Yes, anxiety is nearby, yes, the war is felt, but city life has not disappeared. And concerts are one way to maintain normalcy.
What will happen next
The “Lords of Sound” series looks like a bet on high demand: the audience has accumulated a need for large, content-understandable programs, where there is no need to “get into” the context — just come and hear familiar music performed live.
And if these concerts really fill the halls, it will be another sign: cultural exchange in Israel has not died, it has just become more cautious, more local, and much more expensive to organize. The orchestra returns to the stage in difficult times — and that is why such evenings are perceived not as “entertainment,” but as a way to feel the connection between people again.
In Haifa, Jerusalem, and Ashkelon, this January may sound louder than usual — not only with soundtracks but also with the feeling that life still goes on. NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency
