GOLD available now: http://radi.al/KingsSingersGold

The King’s Singers were officially born on May 1st 1968, formed by six recently-graduated choral scholars from King’s College, Cambridge. Their vocal line-up was (by chance) two countertenors, a tenor, two baritones and a bass, and the group has never wavered from this formation since. 2018 marks the 50th birthday of the group, and to celebrate, The King’s Singers are presenting their anniversary season: GOLD. Everything in this GOLD season, from triple-album to book and concert tour, celebrates the amazing musical heritage of The King’s Singers, and also looks at the bright future of vocal music in all its forms.

What really distinguished the group in its early years was its musical diversity. The King’s Singers were a weekly fixture on prime-time television, celebrating popular music never usually touched by choral ensembles, and their unique British charm, combined with their musical craft, captured audiences’ hearts the world over. The group has consistently been welcomed on the world’s great stages throughout its history – from London’s Royal Albert Hall to the Opera House in Sydney or New York’s Carnegie Hall – as well as being ambassadors for musical excellence across the globe. Two Grammy® Awards, an Emmy® Award, and a place in Gramophone magazine’s inaugural Hall of Fame sit among the numerous accolades bestowed upon the group. 

This love of diversity has always fuelled The King’s Singers’ commitment to creating new music. A panoply of commissioned works by many of the supreme composers of our times – including Sir John Tavener, Toru Takemitsu, John Rutter, Luciano Berio, Nico Muhly, György Ligeti and Eric Whitacre – sits alongside countless bespoke arrangements in the group’s extensive repertoire. The group is determined to spread the joy of ensemble singing, and leads workshops and residential courses all over the world each season.

The world may have changed a lot in the fifty years since the original King’s Singers came together, but today’s group is still charged by the same lifeblood – one that wants to radiate the joy singing brings every day, and that wants to give life to audiences with their virtuosity and vision for an exciting musical future.

Biography

(Born March 13, 1951 in Giv'atayim, Israel) is an Israeli singer and actor.

If Yardena Arazi is the first lady of the "Kdam", Izhar Cohen is the golden boy.

Firstly, he won the first Israeli "Kdam" in 1978, and secondly, he was the first Israeli to bring the Eurovision to Jerusalem.

In 1982 he sang the song "El Haor" (To The Light) with Ya'arit Ben-Ya'acov, daughter of Shimrit Or. Izhar Cohen didn't give up even though he lost in that "Kdam" (7th place) and he came back successfully in 1985 when he won the "Kdam" with the song "Ole Ole" (Going Up) which gave him a respectable 5th place in the Eurovision Song Contest, held that year in Sweden. Izhar is actually the only Israeli who has won two Kdam contests.

In the 1987 "Kdam" he competed, with the help of his sister, Vardina Cohen, with the song "Musica Hi Neshika Lanetzach" (Music Is a Kiss Forever), but the couple came only fifth. The Cohen brothers co-operated again in the 1989 "Kdam" when Izhar wrote the song "Shvil Hazahav" (The Goldan Lane) for his sister Vardina.

Izhar came back again in the 1996 "Kdam" with the song "Alpayim" (Two Thousand) that climbed only to the 9th position.

Representing Israel, he won the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest with the group Alphabeta performing "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" with music by Nurit Hirsh and words by Ehud Manor. The title of the song is the Hebrew word "ani" (first person singular pronoun) expressed in the popular children's code "B-language".

Cohen later represented Israel again (this time with an unnamed group of backing singers) at the 1985 contest performing "Ole ole" (music - Kobi Oshrat, words - Hamutal Ben-Ze'ev) where he finished 5th.

Cohen was an actor in the Haifa Theatre, Tel Aviv, Israel...

In the beginning of 2011. Cohen recorded his new song - Lamrot hakol (Despite of everything)

Discography

1976. - Contrary of the neighbourhood 
1978. - Hits 
1986. - Crossroad 
1988. - The promise 
1989. - Greatest hits part I 
1993. - Touching the water, touching the wind 
2000. - Israeli legend, part I,II,III 
2004. - Like a crazy bird 
2006. - Songs Of Our Beloved Land 
2008. - Nachum Heiman - 70th Anniversary

Oshrit App is following