Israeli pop sensation Noa Kirel, who will represent Israel in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, brought her A-game to Tel Aviv's biggest concert venue Wednesday night and gave her audience a night to remember.
Over 33,000 spectators came to see the pop star take on Yarkon Park, favored in the past by the likes of Maroon 5, Lady Gaga and Madonna. Her set, which included 23 songs over the course of one hour and 40 minutes, left the crowd in awe and hungry for more.
Noa Kirel performs at Yarkon Park
(Video: Nadav Abbas)
The 21-year-old artist's meteoric rise to stardom seems to be unstoppable at this point as she grabs headlines more and more often, proving on Wednesday evening that she has officially made it to the big league.
Kirel's initial exposure to the spotlight was already in 2015, when she starred in the Israeli TV show "Pushers," a coming of age story of a group of underprivileged teens.
Since then, her parents invested a lot of efforts and resources to help Kirel in her quest of becoming a pop star. Their efforts were persistent, and her fame and success indeed grew exponentially throughout the past few years, reaching their peak at Yarkon Park show.
The evening got off on the right foot with a two-minute countdown plastered on the stage screen at 20:58pm, and the buzzer was followed by a grand entrance right on schedule.
Noa Kirel concert at Park Hayarkon
(Photo: Nadav Abas)
Colorful video art illuminated the huge screens, thoughtfully adapting throughout the performance to fit each and every song in the performance.
An enthusiastic group of over 30 dancers filled the stage, accompanied by a live band, making the pop performance an unforgettable show that stimulated all of the crowd's senses.
The Yarkon Park has hosted a long list legendary international artists, but it is not common for Israeli singers and bands to perform solo shows at the venue, out of fear they would not draw a big enough crowd to justify the investment. Kirel, however, did not disappoint, and put on a grandiose performance, attracting dozens of Israelis who purchased tickets way in advance.
Kirel hosted several guest performances to add some spice to the show, and had four outfit changes throughout the show, keeping the audience on their toes. Among those who shared the stage with the star was GAYLE, the American pop singer whose single ABCDEFU became a Tik-Tok hit.
In the middle of the concert, Kirel was moved to tears in front of the audience. She concluded the show by thanking fans: "Yarkon Park, thank you for an unforgettable evening. I love you."
Wednesday night confirmed that the decision to choose Kirel to represent Israel in the 2023 Eurovision was a good move.
Even though the whole country will be rooting for her as she takes on an international stage in the UK, she made it clear that even without the Eurovision title, she has already won over the hearts of the local audience.