The Antique ensemble dedicates the 2008-2009 season to the music of François Couperin. In this season we shall offer four different programs comprising the four orders of "Les Nations" by Couperin, as well as a fifth program dedicated to the apotheoses of Lully and Corelli by Couperin.

The second program in the "Les Nations" series is dedicated to the German style. Together with François Coueprin's "L'imperiale" we shall present Johann Sebastian Bach's sonata in E major for violin and harpsichord, and the trio sonata "Sanguineus et Melancholius" by his son Carl Philippe Emanuel Bach.

Christmas 2008 brings a new ensemble to Israeli stages: the Israeli Bach Soloists. This new ensemble is dedicated to performing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach on historical instruments. The Israeli Bach Soloists ensemble includes the players of the Antique Ensemble - Rachel Ringelstein, Hadas Fabrikant, Ira Givol, Zohar Shefi and Sharon Rosner, and additional performers from Israel and Europe. The ensemble also includes the top promising young singers in Israel: Hadas Faran, Yair Polishook, David Nortman, as well as counter tenor Arnon Zlotnik.

For its debut program the ensemble will perform music by Bach specially selected for the holidary including the Advent cantata BWV 62 "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland", the Christmas cantata BWV 151 "Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt" and the motet BWV 230 "Lobet den Herrn Alle Heiden". The Israeli Bach Soloists are conducted by Sharon Rosner.