Israel Calling, the Israeli preview event for the Eurovision Song Contest, take place on April 3.
Israel Calling will return for its fifth edition this April. The event will mark 50 years since Israel first participated in Eurovision and 75 years since the State of Israel was established.
On April 2, several of delegations and artists competing in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will arrive to Israel and will stay in the country for three days. During their visit, the artists will taken on a tour of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv will partake in planting trees in the KKL Eurovision Forest located within the European Forest, as part of the global fight against the climate crisis.
The main show will take place on April 3 in Hangar 11 in Tel Aviv. Hangar 11 was used as the venue for Euroclub when Tel Aviv hosted Eurovision 2019. The show will be hosted by Dafna Dekel and Sigal Shachmon, who co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 1999 in Jerusalem. Dafna also represented Israel at Eurovision 1992. The event will contain performances from several Eurovision 2023 artists, as well as some guest artists. It will be streamed live worldwide on social media.
Israel Calling was initiated by the Israeli producer Tali Eshkoli. It is a collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Sports, and Tthe Jewish National Fund (KKL – Keren Kayemet LeYisrael).
Eli Cohen, The Minister of Foreign Affairs:
“The Israel Calling event, which takes place in Israel once again this year in preparation for Eurovision, is a colourful and joyful celebration of music that unites the nations of Europe – just like the contest itself. It is exciting to see that in the 75th year of Israel’s independence, artists from all over Europe come here to celebrate with us, before they head to perform on the biggest stage in the world. I take great pride in Israel’s participation in this celebration, and I am happy to host an international event that will bring here artists, influencers and journalists from all over Europe, who will get to know our beautiful country up close.”
Miki Zohar, The Minister of Culture and Sports:
“I am proud to announce that under my leadership, the Ministry of Culture and Sports is joining the ‘Israel Calling’ event initiative for the first time. “Israel Calling” provides international exposure to Israeli culture, arts and music. Hosting the Eurovision Song Contest delegations lays a fertile ground for cultivating international relations, it promotes Israeli advocacy and inspires collaborations between artists from all over Europe and Israeli musicians. In the last budget, and after many efforts, I have increased the ministry’s budget in favor of holding such international events, culture and sports productions, which add prestige to the State of Israel and contribute to its reputation.”
KKL’s chairwoman Yifat Ovadia Lusky:
“KKL is proud to partake in connecting the State of Israel to influential cultural figures across Europe. The welcoming hospitality and the live show will be held here to mark 50 years of Israel’s participation in the contest, and 75 years of the nation’s independence. It will help us introduce the magnificent Israeli culture that we have built here, thanks to the diversity and beauty of Israeli society. I am confident that the visit to the Eurovision forest and throughout Israel will inspire and instill a genuine connection to the state of Israel, among artists and delegations’ members.”
Tali Eshkoli, producer and founder of Israel Calling:
“I am beyond excited to bring ‘Israel Calling’ Eurovision promo concert back to Israel once again. The show – which has already become a joyful tradition of an international musical celebration – is highly anticipated by Eurovision fans from Israel and across Europe. This year, the show will mark the celebration of 50 years of Israeli participation in Eurovision – a unifying celebration and an exciting landmark for every Israeli, especially in these difficult times. As in every year, artists, delegations, journalists and bloggers from all over Europe will attend the show, and get to know the unique Israeli experience up close and personal. I am glad to have another opportunity to present our beautiful country, our rich culture and the warm Israelis to the European artists and media, and consider this a true calling. I invite the loving Israeli audience to join the international Eurovision celebration! I welcome you to come and sing, dance and celebrate with the Eurovision Family.
This is much more than a musical celebration. It is a celebration of shared universal values, connections and togetherness. I would like to take this opportunity and welcome the delegations, journalists and bloggers: Welcome to Israel, we are all looking forward to seeing you. I’m sure that it’s gonna be awesome!”
Tickets for the live show will go on sale on March 26.
The complete lineup for the show will be gradually revealed over the next couple of days on social media. Wild Youth (Ireland), Sudden Lights (Latvia) and Joker Out (Slovenia) have already confirmed their participation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4-Qn-GO_M4
Six Eurovision pre-party events are being held in the build-up to the 67th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. The dates of the other events are as follows:
- Barcelona Eurovision Party – March 23-25
- Polish Eurovision Party – April 1
- PrePartyES 2023 – April 7-8
- Eurovision in Concert – April 15
- London Eurovision Party – April 16
Image Source: Israel Calling | Source: Israel Calling
