Madonna World Tour Premiere And Masada Opera Festival Kick Off Summer 2o12 Musical Lineup In Israel

New York - June 19, 2012: More than 83,000 travelers from around the world arrived in Israel this month for the kick-off of Madonna's MDNA World Tour 2012 in Tel Aviv and several performances of Bizet's Carmen at Masada as part of the third annual Masada Opera Festival.

Madonna's fourth concert in Israel consisted of a massive stage, state-of-the-art lighting rigs and 22 dancers in a one-off performance at Ramat Gan Stadium near Tel Aviv. The Masada Opera Festival, which included several performances of Bizet's Carmen and various musical concerts at the foot of Masada, featured a specially crafted opera village and a cast of world-renowned opera vocalists, more than 400 soloists, choir members, actors, dancers and performers.

"We are thrilled about the great success of two of Israel's most highly anticipated summer music performances," said Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America, "which attests to Israel's commitment to the arts and its growing reputation as a world-class tourism destination."

Israel will host a diverse selection of concert performances by international artists through summer 2012, including Guns N' Roses (July 3), Chris Cornell (July 16 & 17), Red Hot Chili Peppers (September 10) and Lenny Kravitz (October 6), among others.

For more information about travel to Israel, visit www.goisrael.com.

Contact:
Ross Belfer at WEILL Gail Barzilay at the Israel Ministry of Tourism
E-mail: rbelfer@geoffreyweill.com E-mail: gailbarzilay@imot.org
Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL Tel: 212-499-5647

Joe Diaz Julie Cooper
Israel Ministry of Tourism - Southern Region Israel Ministry of Tourism - Midwest Region
E-mail: joediaz@imot.org E-mail: juliec@imot.org
Tel: 404-541-2770 Tel: 312-803-7077

Dan Manor
Israel Ministry of Tourism - Western Region
E-mail: danm@imot.org
Tel: 323-658-7463

ISRAEL GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICES ◦ NORTH AMERICA
Los Angeles ◦ Director: Eliezer Hod ◦ 323-658-7463
Canada ◦ Director: Oded Grofman ◦ 416-964-3784
New York ◦ Director: Sharon Katzav ◦ 212-499-5650
Atlanta ◦ Director: Joe Diaz ◦ 404-541-2770
Chicago ◦ Director: Omer Eshel ◦ 312-803-7080

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