Sound and Taste at the Dan Eilat

For the fifth time, the Dan Eilat Hotel hosted the Eilat Chamber Music Festival. Guests enjoyed first class music, pampering hospitality and a surprising culinary experience

Photos: Aran Dolev

In the winter, Eilat becomes a city of music festivals. Of these, the Chamber Music Festival is one of the most exciting, attracting musicians of international stature to the city.

In February the Dan Hotel Eilat hosted the international festival with a rich and varied program, featuring virtuoso violinist Viktoria Mulova who joined the Geneva Camerata in a performance of classical works by Mozart, Haydn and others.

Additional performances in the festival included the Gabrieli Consort – one of the most important and world renowned baroque ensembles, the French Van Kiujk String Quartet – winners of the 2015 Haydn and Beethoven competition, child prodigy pianist Alexander Malofeev, Alon Olearchik and the String Trio, and especially for the kids, a family comedy show on the life and works of Mozart with the clown Fyodor Makarov.

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For the fifth consecutive year the Dan Hotel chain was the official host and chief sponsor of the festival. The exclusive opening cocktail reception at the Dan Eilat Hotel in the presence of the Eilat mayor, Meir Itzhak Halevi, was hosted by Raffi Sadeh, CEO Dan Hotel chain, and Lior Mucznik General Manager of the Dan Hotel Eilat. It was attended by some 300 chamber music aficionados.

Among the many distinguished guests were Micky Federman, Chairman and controlling share holder of Dan Hotels and his wife Liora, Ami Federman, Dan Hotels Vice Chairman, the Dan Hotel senior management and the festival management board headed by Leonid Rosenberg.

In his greetings Raffi Sadeh, noted, “The Dan Hotel chain is a committed champion of art and culture in Israel, so it is natural for us to partner with the leading classical music festival in Israel”

Barcelona meets Eilat

Alongside the musical experience, festival guests were in for a culinary surprise: an opening cocktail reception and dinner orchestrated by chefs Ofir Kedem of the Dan Eilat and David Biton from the King David.

The highlight was a breakfast inspired by La Boqueria, the famous market in Barcelona. Top patissiers and chefs in the Dan Hotel chain teamed up to create and present a menu based on the special dishes characteristic of the market.

“The idea was to bring the vitality, abundance and exuberant atmosphere of the Boqueria market to the hotel,” explains Cochi Roth, one of the Dan Hotels’ designers, who, together with chef Ofir Kedem, was responsible for this special event.

The hall, which is usually used as a night club, was completely transformed: we drew back the curtains, let the light flood in, and built a market! Booths made of compressed cardboard and wooden platters offered an abundance of market goods – from crates of segmented fruit to oils and condiments in glistening bottles.

A juice booth serving freshly squeezed juice stood alongside stalls laden with mounds of fruit, coffee stands and baked goods.”

During breakfast a guitar player, flamenco dancers, and even a street artist painting landscapes of Barcelona completed the ambience (thanks to artist Sergei Moskolenko, one of the hotel stewards, who speaks no Hebrew, but expresses himself perfectly through his wonderful brush strokes).

During the festival, the guests were able to view a unique art exhibition by Nevo Afek, a visually impaired local high school student who is on the autistic spectrum. Nevo’s achievements show how determination, perseverance and love can overcome difficulties and turn them into challenges.

Nevo’s artistic talent is revealed in his paintings through the use of bold expressive colors intertwined with fine lines in a fascinating duality.

“From year to year the demand grows for the different concerts, and for the vacation packages which include concert tickets,” concludes Lior Mucznik, General Manager of the hotel. “The combination of outstanding music and the culinary experience has turned the festival into an exceptional and unique event.”

Hasta la vista. See you again next year