From Maqam to Baroque motets, the vigor and brilliance of Jerusalem’s cultural blending, set to music by the Ensemble Pera. The ensemble Pera takes its name from a district of Istanbul, for millennia a melting pot of cultures and religions. We find its reflection in the group’s members, made up of recognized specialists in European historically informed performance as well as representatives of the elite of Middle Eastern music. This venture, led by Mehmet C. Yesilçay, aims to extract early music from the museum setting and awaken genuine emotions. Piyyoutim from the synagogues and the splendor of the sultanates blend into a Baroque soundscape.