An Israeli film called “The Band’s Visit” about the journey to Israel of an Egyptian orchestra won praise and many awards in 2007, including three prizes at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. This year, on Israel’s Independence Day, for the first time in 40 years and as a sign of warming relations between the countries, a Jewish-Arab orchestra traveled to Egypt.
Israel’s Ambassador to Egypt Amira Oron hatched the plan to bring the Firkat Alnoor Orchestra (Orchestra of Light) to Egypt, because of the diverse composition of the band, which presents a repertoire of classical Arab music. The concert played by the orchestra on the occasion of Israel’s Independence Day was received with great enthusiasm.
