Duo Harel Magalnyk
Gypsy Klezmer Swing
Menahem Begin Heritage Center
ternationally acclaimed clarinetist Gilad Harel and accordion Master Iliya Magalnyk revisit Klezmer music from Moldova (old Bessarabia), from Odessa, visiting the old Beregovsky collection and the famous Dave Tarras legacy, offering their own take on this rich tradition and taking it through time and continents, crossing paths with Swing, Tango and French Chanson.
Their original compositions draw inspiration from both Klezmer music and Jazz, offering a fresh perspective on tradition while pushing the boundaries and showcasing their unique artistic voice.
A joyful musical celebration of cultural diversity and creativity!
The dynamic duo has captivated audiences across Israel and Europe and has performed, among other venues, at the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival, the Piano Salon Christophori in Berlin, Kissingen Sommer Festival, Buffet Crampon ShowRoom in Paris, the Zafed International Klezmer Festival, the Jerusalem Jazz in Harmony Festival, and the Hecht Museum in Haifa, Israel.
In the coming 2026-27 season they will perform at the jazz’N’klezmer Festival in Paris, the Eilat Chamber Music Festival, the Jewish Music Weekends in Sankt Pölten (Austria), among other venues.
Their new album - KlezmAir - showcases their special program and their unique musical style.
Gilad Harel, clarinet
From the very beginning of his studies, clarinet virtuoso Gilad Harel was mainly influenced by Benny Goodman - the king of swing and Giora Feidman - the king of klezmer.
Since then, throughout his career, Gilad Harel continuously combines all genres - Mozart with Klezmer, Klezmer with Swing, Contemporary Music with folk.
His programs are adventurous, fresh and exhilarating.
Gilad Harel played as a soloist with orchestras such as the Medellin Philharmonic in Colombia, the Hong Kong Sinfonieta, the OCG in Geneva, the Geneva Camerata, the Torino Philharmonic, the Jerusalem Symphony and more. He has collaborated with renowned artists such as Ute Lamper, Avi Avital, David Greilsammer, John Zorn, Yair Dallal and has performed in international festivals such as the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival, Jazz‘N’Klezmer festival in Paris, Cracow Festival for Jewish Culture, Unescu Festival, the Biennale in Venice and many more.
Graduate of the Paris National Conservatory and the Juilliard School in NY, Gilad Harel is faculty at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and at the Israeli Conservatory of Music in Tel Aviv.
Iliya Magalnyk, accordion
Born in Moldova, the exceptional accordionist Iliya Magalnyk mixes in his playing the Jewish soul, the French passion and the Russian drama.
Following his emigration to Israel Iliya Magalnyk became the most sought-after accordionist, in theaters as well as among popular and folk singers.
He works, among others, with the singer Yaël Rasouli, the violinist Alicia Svigals and the pianist Léonid Patachka.