First ever preview party held in Israel

14 April 2016 at 12:36 CEST
Artists get together at Israel Calling Jan Demulder (EBU)
For the first time since Israel began participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, it hosted artists from 19 countries and journalists from around the world for a three-day visit to Tel Aviv. The highlight of the visit was a concert in which the artists performed their entries for this year's Eurovision Song Contest. 

The artist's visit to Israel, took place from April 11th to the 13th. During their visit, the artists toured Tel Aviv and its attractive sites, dined in its finest restaurants, and participated in a special reception, where they walked the red carpet a gala event, hosted by Tel Aviv’s mayor, Mr. Ron Huldai, the ambassadors of the various represented countries and VIPs. A press conference was also held. 

 

 

 

The highlight of this visit was on Tuesday, April 12th with a live show which took place in the beautiful Theatre Club (Ha'teatron), where the artists performed their entries for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. 

This was the biggest Eurovision event to take place in Israel since the country hosted the contest in 1999.

The following artists made the trip to Tel Aviv, although Jüri Pootsmann (Estonia) had to withdraw from the actual concert due to illness.

  • Albania - Eneda Tarifa
  • Austria - ZOË
  • Azerbaijan - Samra
  • Belarus – Ivan
  • Bulgaria - Poli Genova
  • Estonia - Jüri Pootsmann
  • Finland - Sandhja
  • France – Amir
  • Hungary - Freddie
  • Israel – Hovi Star
  • Latvia – Justs
  • Lithuania - Donny Montell
  • Moldova – Lidia Isac
  • Poland - Michał Szpak
  • Romania - Ovidiu Anton
  • Russia - Sergey Lazarev
  • Slovenia - ManuElla
  • Switzerland – Rykka
  • United Kingdom – Joe and Jake

Also appearing at the concert was the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest winner for Israel,  Izhar Cohen, and Svika Pick, co-composer of the 1998 winning Israeli song Diva.

The event was initiated and produced by television producer Mrs. Tali Eshkoli, who already produced Israel’s biggest Eurovision national selection, Kdam Eurovision 2013, as well as documentary films and televised articles about the contest and the artists who represented Israel. Eshkoli is also the initiator of the collaboration between the Israel Broadcasting Authority and Keshet Media Group, resulting in having the popular TV show Rising Star as the Israeli national selection for Eurovision 2015 and 2016. Eshkoli also produces the famous Israel Party which occurs every year at the Eurovision Song Contest host city.

With the success of this first Israel Calling event, it could well become an annual event in the Eurovision party season.

Watch out for more videos from Israel Calling coming soon on our official YouTube channel.

The next event coming up in the Eurovision party season is the London Preview Party on Sunday 17th April.