The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is scheduled to play in Hungary and Poland in November, solidifying recently re-formed diplomatic ties between the Jewish State and these countries. The performances will be the first for the IPO in Eastern bloc nations since all but Rumania broke off relations with Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War. IDF spokeswoman Michal Oren said the IPO would give one concert in Budapest and five in Poland, at the invitation of both these countries’ governments. She said the orchestra will be led by conductor Zubin Mehta, with violinist Itzhak Perlman performing with them.
Hungary and Poland are expected to resume diplomatic relations imminently. The two countries have agreed to exchange diplomatic representatives, but will not be exchanging Ambassadors. The agreement will resemble that between Israel and Poland, which have exchanged consular officers. The IPO recently returned from a concert tour of Spain, which established diplomatic relations with Israel in January 1986 for the first time ever.
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