Divine – Gil Shohat and the Polyphony Ensemble in a tribute performance to the great female singers

DIVINE | Soul Legends

A powerful, captivating, and one-of-a-kind show bringing together two pinnacles of soul music: the unforgettable hits of the greats of American soul and pop, and the magnificent romantic works of Sergei Rachmaninoff.

The entire evening is a tribute to iconic artists who defined eras, changed the face of global music, and infused the soundtracks of entire generations’ lives with groove, deep emotion, and soul. The show features songs we all grew up with, danced to, and fell in love with all over again—timeless classics performed with precision, energy, and electrifying power.

At the heart of the evening is a fascinating artistic connection: alongside disco, R&B, and soul arrangements, piano virtuosos Gil Shohat and Michael Zaretzky will perform one of the most sweeping and evocative works written for two pianos—Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Suite No. 1, Op. 5 (Fantaisie-Tableaux).

Rachmaninoff’s sublime melodies, by one of the greatest composers of the early-20th-century post-Romantic era, correspond perfectly with the raw emotional outcry of Black soul music, giving the concert an extraordinary dramatic dimension.

Rachmaninoff’s Masterpiece: Suite No. 1 for Two Pianos, Op. 5

The First Suite, written in 1893 when Rachmaninoff was only 20 and dedicated to Tchaikovsky, is a magnificent musical poem based on songs and poems. The work consists of four movements, all embodying love, soul, imagination, and drama:

I. Barcarolle: A poetic movement inspired by a poem by Lermontov. The music imitates the gentle motion of a gondola on the waves, from which grows a romantic, enchanting, profound, and melancholic melody, bringing the Russian soul to the stage in all its glory.

II. Night... Love...: Inspired by a poem by Byron. This is one of the most sensual and beautiful love movements ever written for piano. The two pianos weave together sounds that evoke the nightingale’s song and lovers’ whispers on a summer night filled with passion and pure emotion.

III. Tears: Inspired by a poem by Tyutchev. A powerful and moving movement based on a recurring four-note descending motif, evoking falling tears and the sound of distant church bells. A work of exposed soul expressing profound sorrow and sublime hope.

IV. Easter (Svetly Prazdnik): A phenomenal and ecstatic finale inspired by Russian Easter celebrations. A virtuosic movement, orchestral in character, evoking the mighty and celebratory ringing of all the cathedral bells in Moscow. A breathtaking conclusion at a thrilling pace that electrifies the hall and connects with the concert’s energetic groove.

A Vocal and Heavenly Experience on Stage

The legendary songs of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and others will be performed by singer Osnat Harel, who possesses phenomenal vocal ability and a magnetic stage presence that touches the audience’s heart from the very first note.

Accompanied by an outstanding instrumental ensemble and backing vocalists, the songs are performed in meticulous, rich arrangements faithful to the originals, preserving the original groove alongside the show’s distinctive classical touch.

Among the songs performed:

I Will Always Love You • Ain’t No Mountain High Enough • Simply the Best • Respect • Purple Rain and many more...

Participants

• Vocals: Osnat Harel
• Drums and production: Nati Cohen
• Bass guitar and musical production: Amitai Freinta
• Piano: Michael Zaretzky
• Keyboards and computer: Gidi Hertz
• Electric guitar: Guy Baar
• Saxophone: Yuval Tabachnik
• Conductor, pianist, host, and presenter: Maestro Gil Shohat

Photography credit for Gil Shohat: Shai Hansav