About Cricket is a poetic animated series from the work of Czech artist Zdeněk Miler, who became famous all over the world especially for his character The little Mole. In this series, the main hero is a Cricket - a friendly and unusual fairy-tale creature who never sets out on a journey without his violin. It is thanks to them and their magical, catchy music that he is able to overcome all obstacles that come his way. Miler's gentle world, told without words, enchants child audiences with its kindness, humour and artistic playfulness. The screening is enriched by a live musical accompaniment by a baroque quartet, which plays in synchrony with the film. After the screening, the musicians will present their unique historical instruments to the audience. The musical accompaniment was created by composer Etienne Meyer, who composed a score especially for this project for an original set of baroque instruments.
Screening in Jerusalem:
16.4.25, at 11:00 - Train Theater Jerusalem, tickets
Other screenings:
14.4.25, at 11:00 - Hecht Museum Haifa, tickets
15.4.25, at 11:00 - Suzanne Delall Center, tickets
17.5.25 Yad Eliyahu Art Center (HaBait LeOmanut)
Duration: 45 mins, for children 3+
This cinema-concert production was created by Les Traverées Baroques and commissioned by the Opéra of Dijon, France in 2014, Since then it has been performed successfully in theater halls, cultural centers, schools, and kindergartens.
Musicians
Nadav Ovadia - dulcimer
Alma Meir Nir - cornett
Sonia Binenfeld Navot - viola da gamba
Nadav Ovadia performs internationally as a specialist of historical dulcimers and as a percussionist. Nadav is currently pursuing a PhD at the university in Hamburg and Lyon with a focus on rare baroque dulcimers and Jewish musicians of the 18th century. With his rare dulcimers, he presents the musical outcomes of his research in recitals in France, Germany, and Israel. Experienced in concerts for children, Nadav has performed in the original production of The Cricket in France since 2020.
Alma Meir Nir specializes in historical winds and the music of the Renaissance and the Baroque. She graduated from Royal Conservatory of Utrecht. Alma is the sole Israeli musician to play the cornetto- a heavenly sounding wind instrument that is highlighted in this cinema concert. Alma is active as a soloist, music producer, and arranger, and performs concerts internationally. She is a dedicated volunteer who works for the good of animals.
Sonia Binenfeld Navot plays viola da gamba and cello. Sonia had specialized in early music under the direction of Paulo Pandolfo in the famous “Schola Cantorum Basiliensis” in Switzerland. She is a laureate of the scholarships of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, on both of her instruments. Sonia is a highly sought-after player who has been an integral part of the Israeli early music scene from an early age.
The composer Etienne Meyer was born in 1976 in Nancy, France. As an avid fan of silent films, Meyer wrote for The Cricket an original music to be performed on baroque instruments. Meyer uses the rich sound colors of the ancient instruments in a modern musical language. In order to help the musicians to be synchronized with the film, and to eliminate the need for a conductor, Meyer added a subtle soundtrack, to be heard over the speakers, which enriches the music and signals the musicians the time frame of the pictures.
Zdeněk Miler
(1921-2011)
„Walt Disney used almost all animals for his cartoons except one. And I chose that one. “
Czech director and illustrator of animated films for children and author of the popular character the Mole.
Zdeněk Miler was born in Kladno and has been drawing since childhood. He graduated from the State Graphic School in Prague and continued to the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design. He worked actively as an animator, scriptwriter, director, and illustrator. During his life, he participated in several films and created illustrations for many children's books. His most famous creation is the Mole character. His popularity was and still is so high that there are around 50 stories about him. Adventures of the Mole are interesting in many ways, for example, apart from the first film (How the Mole Got His Pants), the characters in the tales do not speak, only make sounds. Even the choice of hero has a story. Miler was looking for an animal for the film that had not yet been depicted in Walt Disney's fairy tales, and he was inspired to choose a mole by molehills he tripped over while walking. The artist received many awards during his lifetime. In 2006, Czech President Václav Klaus awarded him the Medal of Merit of the 1st Grade.
