“This concert is different from any other concert experience,” promises Avi Avital. The Israeli musician discovered the mandolin for himself at the age of eight, and helped the somewhat forgotten instrument to gain new prestige – thanks to his thrilling, virtuoso playing technique. And he shows with unconventional programmes how versatile the mandolin is. For the second part of the Tel Aviv-Berlin weekend, Avi Avital has brought along his favourite programme Between Worlds, in which he, together with accordionist Ksenija Sidorova and percussionist Itamar Doari, has achieved a happy synthesis of classical and folk music.

The innovative trio around the Israeli pianist Omer Klein will also present their programme Radio Mediteran: cosmopolitan jazz that makes audible how the different cultures of the Mediterranean region have positively influenced each other. But this is not about stylization: “I didn’t want to copy this music,” says Omer Klein. “Rather, we have tried to absorb them and put them into a new, personal context, perhaps even ultimately creating a new genre.”

Another stylistic facet is added to the programme by SHALSOH, who present titles from their latest album Onwards and Upwards. Elements of rock, pop and jazz are combined here with moves from electronic music and the timbres of Middle Eastern music. The result is an extremely contemporary, modern jazz piano trio. Pieces with programmatic titles such as Jerusalem State of Mind, Children of the 90's and Exodus show how deeply the Shalosh Trio are involved in current events. “ That is the beauty of this band,” says pianist Gadi Stern and founder of the ensemble, “there are no rules for the sound. We can do what we want. Everything is possible.”