was the music director of the Israel Chamber Orchestra, was appointed music director of the New Israeli Opera. In the 1987/88 season the New Israeli Opera's first production was aired: Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell at the Cameri Theater in Tel Aviv. In 1995 the world premiere of the opera Josef by Josef Tal was conducted by Gary Bertini and directed by David Olden. Journey to the End of the Millennium, a Hebrew opera based on A. B. Yehoshua's book was conducted and especially commissioned for the opera's 20th anniversary. Today the Israeli Opera is directed by Hanna Munitz. All Israeli Opera productions are sung in the original language with Hebrew and English surtitles and presented at the Opera House at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, opened in 1994. In recent years the Israeli Opera also presents dance, classical music, jazz and children music series at the Opera House. Present Day The Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center The Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center is the residence of the Israeli Opera since 1994. The building was designed by Yaakov Rechter, and the foyer - by Ron Arad. The Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center forms the main part of the Golda Center, located between Weizmann St., Shaul Hamelech Blvd. and Leonardo da Vinci St. This area had been designated for public buildings in the late 1950s. Throughout the years, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Beit Ariela Sha'ar Zion Library and the Piazza connecting them were built there. In the early 1980s, the Municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo designated the western part of the area for the Performing Arts Center, one of the major cultural complexes of Tel Aviv. Since its inauguration, the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center has been the permanent house of the Israeli Opera. Later on its additional wing was completed, housing the Cameri Theater. Orchestra The orchestra currently working with the Israeli Opera is the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion (ISO). The orchestra was founded in 1988 in the municipality of Rishon LeZion, and became the resident orchestra of the Israeli Opera in 1989. The current music director and chief conductor of the ISO is Dan Ettinger and the director general is Ofer Sela. In addition to its work with the Israeli Opera, the ISO offers symphonic subscription series, family concerts and special performances for young people and senior members of the community in Tel Aviv and