Greek singer George Dalaras to perform in Israel

Greek singer George Dalaras is back in Israel, for the fifth time.

Since first appearing there in 1987, the Greek singer has pursued something of a love affair with Israeli audiences. All his shows there have sold out, and his records have done brisk business over the years. His forthcoming visit on September 24-27 was originally a two-date tour, but due to the rush for tickets, the organizers had added a third gig to the agenda.

Dalaras has been at the top of his profession for over 30 years. During that time he has cemented his standing as one of Greece’s most successful artists but has also managed to appeal to a wider audience across the globe. If you are trying to access market sectors outside your own cultural milieu, it helps to perform material in the audience’s own language, so Dalaras has recorded and performed songs in numerous languages, including Hebrew. On his forthcoming tour, his repertoire will include Dalaras’ readings of songs by a whole slew of top Israeli songwriters and artists, including Yehudah Poliker, Haim Moshe and Zohar Argov.

Dalaras has also spread it around stylistically over the years, incorporating Greek genres, such as rebetiko and laiko, along with Latin material, pop and even Arabic compositions. Dalaras has also mixed it with some of the biggest names in the Western music pantheon, with his brothers in music to date including the likes of Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Jethro Tull and Peter Gabriel.

Dalaras has also become known for his peace-mongering and is a goodwill ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). While in Israel, Dalaras will donate his fee from one of the three concerts here to the Physicians for Human Rights organization.

At the Mann Auditorium on September 24 and 25 at 9 p.m.; At the Caesarea on September 27 at 8:45 p.m.