It began as a vision鈥攁 bold dream to give Jewish musicians a home, and a young nation an orchestra. When Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman founded the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in 1936, he set out to 鈥渦nite the country鈥檚 desire for an orchestra with the Jewish musicians鈥� desire for a homeland.鈥� Nearly 90 years later, his dream not only endures but thrives. The orchestra remains a cornerstone of Israel鈥檚 cultural identity, bringing generations together through music, and its mission remains as powerful as ever: to inspire, connect, and share the universal language of music.
鈥淧eople often say classical music is in decline, but in reality, it鈥檚 everywhere鈥攊n films, video games, and the media we consume daily,鈥� says Yuval Shapiro, Trumpet Chair and a member of the orchestra鈥檚 management team. 鈥淭he challenge for orchestras today is to bridge that gap, to show audiences that attending a live concert isn鈥檛 intimidating but an enriching experience.鈥�
Expanding its reach both locally and internationally, the orchestra has seen a surge in attendance, particularly among younger listeners. 鈥淚n Israel, we have around 13,000 concert subscribers, mainly in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem. When we couldn鈥檛 travel abroad (during COVID), we focused on our local audience鈥攁nd it paid off,鈥� explains Yair Mashiach, secretary general of the ensemble.
With new energy, an evolving repertoire, and Lahav Shani at the helm, the orchestra is exploring fresh ways to engage its audience. 鈥淧eople are shifting from buying subscriptions to purchasing single tickets, largely due to the challenges of recent years鈥攖he pandemic, the war, and other uncertainties. But when we look at the bigger picture, we鈥檙e encouraged. Our audience鈥檚 faith in us remains strong, and in the end, we鈥檙e not playing to fewer people鈥攚e鈥檙e playing to more,鈥� explains Mashiach.
The renowned institution, led and conducted by Shani, returns to the United States for a five-city tour with Miami the first stop on Wednesday, March 19 at 8 p.m. at the .
鈥淟ahav is a phenomenal musician and a fascinating person鈥攊ntelligent, knowledgeable, and deeply connected to the orchestra. Many of us have known him for years, and watching him step into this role has been truly interesting,鈥� says Shapiro.
Shani renewed his contract with the orchestra in February 2025 and will remain music director until at least 2032. He first stepped into the role in 2020 when he succeeded the renowned conductor Zubin Mehta.
鈥�(Shani) actively commissions new works and champions major Israeli compositions from the 20th century. Planning meetings with him are a privilege鈥攈is approach is collaborative, engaging, and full of fresh ideas. It鈥檚 always a dynamic exchange, never about authority, but about listening and creating together.鈥�
The tour鈥檚 program showcases masterpieces from the 19th and 20th centuries, including Mendelssohn鈥檚 Symphony No. 3, 鈥淪cottish,鈥� inspired by the rugged beauty of Scotland, and one of Tchaikovsky鈥檚 most iconic works鈥攅ither Symphony No. 5 or 鈥淧ath茅tique鈥� (No. 6), depending on the city. In Miami, Tchaikovsky鈥檚 鈥淪ymphony No. 6鈥� is on the program.
鈥淭chaikovsky鈥檚 Fifth and Sixth Symphonies are such a huge part of our repertoire. They鈥檙e these big, sweeping, emotional works, and we wanted to pair them with pieces that have a strong connection to Jewish composers,鈥� says Shapiro.
The day after the Miami performance, the orchestra travels to West Palm Beach for a performance on Thursday, March 20 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, where the program features Tchaikovsky鈥檚 鈥淪ymphony No. 5鈥� along with Mendelssohn鈥檚 鈥淪ymphony No. 3.鈥�
鈥淔or the Fifth Symphony, we鈥檙e playing it alongside Mendelssohn鈥檚 Scottish Symphony鈥攚hich isn鈥檛 Jewish at all, but it鈥檚 interesting because it shows this transition from classical to romantic music. Both symphonies go on this really powerful journey, starting in a minor key, full of tension and struggle, and then breaking through into something hopeful. That shift鈥攆rom darkness to light鈥攆eels especially relevant right now.鈥�
In addition to these symphonic masterworks, the orchestra will present music deeply rooted in Jewish heritage, carrying both historical and emotional significance.
Shapiro shares that the first half of the program in Miami features works by Jewish composers: Tzvi Avni鈥檚 鈥淧rayer,鈥� Max Bruch鈥檚 鈥淜ol Nidrei,鈥� and Leonard Bernstein鈥檚 鈥淗alil.鈥�
鈥淏ernstein鈥檚 鈥楬alil鈥� is a deeply moving flute concerto he wrote in memory of a young musician who was killed in the Yom Kippur War. Bernstein was such a huge part of our orchestra鈥檚 history鈥攈e even conducted us during Israel鈥檚 War of Independence. So this program feels incredibly meaningful, especially now. It鈥檚 not about religion, it鈥檚 about emotion鈥攇rief, memory, resilience. And then you have Tchaikovsky鈥檚 鈥淧ath茅tique,鈥� which is so heartbreaking鈥攊t builds and builds with all this energy, and then in the final movement, it just fades away, like a heartbeat slowing down. It鈥檚 devastating but beautiful. If people can make it to both programs in Florida, they鈥檒l really get to experience two sides of an incredible musical story.鈥�
The orchestra embarks on the tour at a time of heightened political tensions and rising antisemitism. When asked about the challenges of performing in such an environment, Shapiro and Mashiach emphasize the importance of focusing on the music.
鈥淚 try to explain, no matter where we play鈥攚hether in Europe or the U.S.鈥攖hat we are at the heart of Israeli culture. But we are not ambassadors of the Israeli government. What we represent is purely the artistry and excellence of Israeli musicianship,鈥� says Shapiro. 鈥淵ou should treat us the same way you would treat the Berlin Philharmonic. This is about great music, a great program, a great conductor, and outstanding soloists. The priority should be the music 鈥攖his orchestra has 88 years of history, and that legacy speaks for itself.鈥�
Despite the political climate, the orchestra remains committed to its mission of sharing music with audiences from all walks of life.
鈥淲e know where we come from, and we understand the complexities. Even when people protest against us, we try to engage with them. We ask, 鈥榃hat is it you want?鈥� Because in reality, what we do is an example of maintaining normalcy in Israel鈥攑reserving culture, keeping the arts alive, even in times of war, even with all the challenges we face,鈥� say Mashiach. 鈥淢usic offers comfort. We don鈥檛 ask about political views when people come to our concerts, and frankly, we don鈥檛 care. What matters is that, for those two hours, people can find a moment of escape, a moment of connection.鈥�
And as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra embarks on its tour, its musicians remain dedicated to creating moments of deep emotional connection鈥攂oth for themselves and their audiences. Music, after all, has the power to transcend barriers, offering comfort, reflection, and inspiration. 鈥淚 remember just a few weeks ago, I went to see 鈥淲ar Requiem鈥� by Britten at the Israeli Opera, and it was so moving鈥擨 just started crying in the audience. And I wasn鈥檛 the only one,鈥� one musician shared. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something we need to do. I truly hope the public in Miami, West Palm Beach, and California (the orchestra continues its tour to Palm Desert, San Francisco and Costa Mesa) will come to the concert and have an experience that is both beneficial and meaningful,鈥� says Shapiro.
Beyond its history and its mission, the Israel Philharmonic carries something intangible yet unmistakable鈥攁 unique sound, shaped by its musicians and the spirit of the country it represents. 鈥淲e have a sound like no other,鈥� says Mashiach.
They hope to share that sound with audiences, offering an experience that lingers long after the final note fades.
IF YOU GO
What: The Israel Philharmonic conducted by Music Director Lahav Shani
When: 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 19 and 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 20
Where: Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd, Miami; Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.
Cost: In Miami: $40, $55, $80, $97, $131, $190; in West Palm Beach: $40, $75, $90, $125, $165, $180.
Information: 305-949-6722 or ; 561-832-7469 or
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