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For Immediate Release
June 18, 2007
Chicago's WTTW National Productions to Shoot Historic PBS Special on the Ancient Fortress of Masada in Southern Israel with Israeli Performer David Broza
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jackson Browne, Grammy Winner Shawn Colvin
and an Israeli-Palestinian children’s choir will Guest
Chicago – June 18, 2007 – Chicago-based WTTW National Productions, a division of WTTW11, Chicago's primary public television station, and co-producer The Angel Group (London) have the green light from funders and PBS to begin production of DAVID BROZA AT MASADA, an unprecedented one-hour special that will feature international composer, guitarist and singer David Broza.
Joined by legendary rocker Jackson Browne and Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, Broza will begin in the early morning hours with spectacular aerial footage that will unveil the poetic beauty of Israel's landscape and will conclude with the sun rising over the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea.
"Imagine combining the passionate force of David Broza's music with a spectacular sunrise illuminating one of the most spiritual and ancient places in the world. It promises to be an unforgettable broadcast experience, "said WTTWN Executive Producer Nicolette Ferri.
Because high definition broadcasting is not yet available in Israel, WTTWN's crew will erect a state-of-the-art master control studio on the top of the fortress. Internationally respected Julia Knowles will direct the production. Shot with 10 high-definition cameras and mixed Dolby 1.5 Surround Sound, this special will feature material spanning Broza's distinguished 30-year career. In addition to Browne and Colvin, Palestinian musicians will join him to perform his international hit, "In My Heart," and an Israeli and Palestinian children's choir will also perform.
DAVID BROZA AT MASADA will be shot during the last week of June and broadcast nationwide as a PBS pledge special in December 2007, just in time for the holiday period.
Israeli composer, guitarist and singer David Broza has garnered 16 gold, platinum and multi-platinum releases. He transcends national and artistic boundaries by singing in English, Hebrew, and Spanish. With his flamenco-tinged, folk-rock melodies and keen talent for breathing musical life into snippets of poetry, Broza commands and captivates his audience's heart, mind and soul.
Singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and political activist Jackson Browne has written and performed many iconic hit songs, including "Doctor My Eyes," "Take it Easy" (with the Eagles' Glenn Frey), "The Pretender," "These Eyes," "Here Come Those Tears Again," "Running on Empty," and numerous others. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
Multiple Grammy winner Shawn Colvin has been working steadily on the music scene since the late 1970s, collaborating with Suzanne Vega, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bruce Hornsby, and others. Her breakthrough success came with her Grammy-winning album A Few Small Repairs in 1996. She released her most recent CD, These Four Walls, last year.
DAVID BROZA AT MASADA has been generously sponsored in part by HoMedics, Inc., The Jewish Agency, Israel Ministry of Tourism, Ikea Israel, Israel Discount Bank, Ltd., Matthew Bronfman and Michael Steinhardt.
WTTW National Productions is a premier producer and presenter of original, high-quality television programs for both public and commercial television broadcast. WTTW National Productions is a division of Window to the World Communications, Inc., the parent company of WTTW11 Chicago. For more than 50 years, WTTW11 and WTTW National Productions have introduced a wide array of ground-breaking television programming – reflecting the world's rich and diverse arts and entertainment scene as well as education, politics, public affairs, business, and religion – to a national audience. Its landmark innovative series and original productions include the critically-acclaimed performance showcases Center Stage, Soundstage, and Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis; Grannies on Safari; and MEXICO--One Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless. For more information, visit www.wttw.com.
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