Two-time Oscar nominee John Malkovich is returning to Israel in a rare international booking at a time when Israel’s entertainment industry is facing continued disruption and boycotts.
Malkovich will perform in The Music Critic at Tel Aviv’s Charles Bronfman Auditorium from April 13, 2027, alongside composer Aleksey Igudesman and pianist Hyung-Ki Joo.
The show, a musical satire, blends classical music and comedy, with Malkovich playing an “evil critic” who tears apart composers including Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann and Chopin, before ironically reading a genuinely harsh review of his own career.
Written and conceived by Igudesman, the production has toured across Europe and the US and was also released as an official album.
It will be Malkovich’s third professional visit to Israel. He first came in 2008 as a guest of honour at the Jerusalem Film Festival, before returning in 2013 with The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a Serial Killer, performed at the Eilat International Chamber Music Festival and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.
His return comes at a difficult time for Israel’s entertainment industry, with international performances disrupted by boycotts and artists choosing to stay away.
“I am thrilled to return to Israel and look forward to meeting the warm Israeli audience once again, to whom I feel a strong closeness and solidarity. I hope to find you happy and optimistic! Sending you much love,” Malkovich said.
The announcement comes just days after the actor appeared at the Venice Film Festival for Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine, alongside Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits and Parker Posey.
The film received a 14-minute standing ovation following its world premiere, with Malkovich visibly emotional during the response.
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