Israeli Superstar RITA to Sing in Southern California

By Eman Isadiar

THOUSAND OAKS, CA—On March 21 at 7 pm, the Fred Kavli Theater at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza braces for what promises to be a blockbuster concert by Israel's most popular singer of all time—RITA—along with a performance by American-Israeli dance company Keshet Chaim (“Rainbow of Life”) to the exotic beat of LA's own Naked Rhythm Drummers.

This concert is the last in RITA's eagerly anticipated US tour, which included a charity benefit in New York, and performances in Philadelphia and Miami.

Voice of a Nation

Israel's most popular singer of all time, RITA, will perform in Thousand Oaks on March 21 (photo courtesy of Keshet Chaim).

Now in its seventh decade of existence, the State of Israel has finally accomplished what may have been only a distant dream to the country's founders—to create a cohesive society from a hodgepodge of immigrant populations coming from as far-flung places as Yemen and America, with little or nothing in common except a legacy of persecution for their faith or ancestry.

Perhaps no other single artist has had so profound an impact on the nascent culture of Israel as the Persian-born songstress known simply by her first name, “RITA.”

Launching her singing and acting careers in the 1980s, RITA has become a powerful unifying force, loved and admired by multiple generations of Israelis whether they trace their cultural roots to Eastern or Western Europe, to North Africa or Central Asia. Her deeply moving rendition of the national anthem in Israel's 50th anniversary jubilee has forever engraved RITA's name in the pages of history and in the hearts of her people.

And now, RITA seeks to conquer America's heart.

New Music Weekly recently named RITA as the latest “Top 40 Breakthrough Artist” for her new American single “Love Has Begun,” which continues to make its way through American music charts. She has raised the Western-style pop song to new heights with her impressively wide vocal range and musical ornamentation akin to ancient Persian music.

Throughout her career, RITA has also recorded, performed and paraphrased well-known songs by the late Persian diva Hayedeh, which indicates her reverence and love for the music of her birthplace.

RITA's deep chest voice has a grainy, rich timbre while her high head voice is powerful, pure and penetrating. Her natural gift, her technical prowess and her diverse cultural influences have combined in a rare convergence of elements to create a truly unique artist.

Perhaps in an effort to connect with her younger fan base, RITA seems to have dropped the emblematic rolled “r” of the Mizrahi accent, which she has now replaced with its guttural counterpart of mainstream Hebrew.

Whatever the accent, prepare to fall under RITA's spell as did thousands in her 2003 Los Angeles appearance also produced by Keshet Chaim. This single performance on the first day of spring—the Persian New Year—could very well be the harbinger of many more concerts in the United States by Israel's beloved superstar, and possibly America's new dark-haired sweetheart.

“RITA Live in Concert”
Sunday, March 21 at 7 pm
Fred Kavli Theater
Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza
2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
818-986-7332 – www.kcdancers.org

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Eman Isadiar is a San Francisco-based pianist and music writer.