The Israel Philharmonic returns to Davies Symphony Hall under the direction of Lahav Shani.

This well-loved orchestra will perform works by Tzvi Avni, Max Bruch, Leonard Bernstein, and Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky for one night only.

The Israel Philharmonic is one of Israel’s oldest and most influential cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1936, the Israel Philharmonic has dedicated itself to presenting the world’s greatest music to audiences in Israel and around the world.

Founded by Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman, the Israel Philharmonic represents the fulfillment of his dream “to unite the desire of the country for an orchestra with the desire of the Jewish musicians for a country.” Huberman spent countless hours persuading first-chair musicians of Eastern European and German orchestras, who had lost their jobs as a result of Nazism, to immigrate to Palestine. In doing so, Huberman created an “orchestra of soloists” which continues to act as a dynamic, global community for musicians from across the world.

Major soloists and conductors have always performed with the Israel Philharmonic. Martha Argerich, Yefim Bronfman, Leonidas Kavakos, Itzhak Perlman, Kirill Petrenko, Gil Shaham, Sir András Schiff and Pinchas Zukerman, among many others, are regular guests of the orchestra.

The Israel Philharmonic is Israel’s premier cultural ambassador and travels extensively throughout the world, particularly to countries where there is little or no Israeli representation.

// March 23 at Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center); tickets are available at sfsymphony.org.