Israel Philharmonic’s global gala concert with Dame Helen Mirren: how do I watch and who’s performing?

26 June 2020, 14:03 | Updated: 26 June 2020, 14:10

Join actor Helen Mirren – and pianist Khatia Buniatishvili, violinist Pinchas Zukerman, cellist Amanda Forsyth and others – and help raise money for the orchestra.

This Sunday (28 June), Academy Award-winning actor Helen Mirren will host a special gala concert performed by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (ISO).

Streamed online, the global gala concert aims to raise money for the orchestra following the financially devastating impact of the coronavirus. The stream itself is free to watch, but viewers are encouraged to donate as they watch or afterwards.

“I’m thrilled to be hosting the Israel Philharmonic’s first-ever global gala,” Dame Helen Mirren says. “This is not just a way to support the future of a world-class cultural institution since proceeds from the event will help recover some of the revenue lost during the current pandemic.

“This is also an opportunity to honour music’s power to unify us during challenging times.”

Read more: Government publishes five-stage ‘roadmap’ for theatres and concert halls to reopen >

IPO GLOBAL GALA hosted by Dame Helen Mirren

Who is performing at Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s gala concert?

The concert will feature appearances from pianists Khatia Buniatishvili, Yefim Bronfman, András Schiff and Evgeny Kissin; soprano Chen Reiss; violinists Gil Shaham and Pinchas Zukerman; clarinettist Martin Fröst; and cellist Amanda Forsyth.

The programme will also feature special personal messages from conductor Zubin Mehta – the IPO’s music director emeritus – and principal guest conductor Gianandrea Noseda, as well as legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman.

How can I watch online?

ISO’s gala concert is being streamed online for free, and hosted by Medici TV at 7pm BST on Sunday 28 June.

You have to register at ipo.co.il/virtual-ipo-global-gala to receive a link to the stream the concert, so don’t forget to register ahead of time.

The stream itself is free to watch, but viewers are encouraged to donate as they watch or afterwards. All proceeds will go to the orchestra itself, with the aim of mitigating the crippling effect of lockdowns and closures in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Click here to find out more, register or donate now.