Hamuchtar

Hamuchtar (Hebrew: המוכתר), Gilad Philip Ben-David, b. 1971, is a singer and cabaret artist who began his career in Tel Aviv in the late 1980s. He has also played various films most notably “Amazing Grace” by the late director Amos Guttman, as well as directing his own films and theatre plays. His musical style incorporates cabaret, mizrahi music, Yemenite music and electronica.

1988 „Charlie“ - self produced vinyl record (Israel)

1988 ″The Spider“ - 40 min 8 mm film written and directed by Hamuchtar (Israel)

In 1989, Hamuchtar played his set "The Days of Awe" in the rock club Roxanne, accompanied by bassist Kozo Almakis from the group "Natasha's Friends". The set included songs from "The Yom Kippur Siddur" with traditional Yemenite influences.

1989 „Horrible Days“- with kozo-bass and drum (Israel)

In 1990, he performed “Guard of Zion”, a satirical anti-nationalistic group of songs. The show was a response to the (Intifada) and right wing Israeli movements. The following year he ditched social-political themes and came up with "The Moon and the Parthenon” his most successful set so far. Accompanied by an accordionist, he toured Israel amidst scud rocket attacks and re-introduced chansons and burlesque to Bauhaus Tel-Aviv.

1990-1992 „The Moon and the Parthenon“ - chansons

1991 „Soldiers and Hookers“ - electro Hispanic nights with original live show integrated dialogues performed by two actors.

1991 ″Amazing Grace“ - nominated for Best Foreign Film the same year (Israel)at Cannes - directed by A. Gutmann, featuring Hamuchtar

1991 ″Astray“ - 40 min video film directed and played by Hamuchtar (Israel)

1991-1994 various TV appearances, in particular New Year’s Eve 1993 with the legendary Allenby Choir (Israel)

1991 „A Soldier and a Hooker“ - five short combative dialogues (Israel)

In 1992, he staged “Soldiers and Hookers”, a warriors show with reoccurrences of sexual frustrations and war crimes. The show was accompanied by trumpet and an acoustic guitar (censored by the Israeli radio). In 1993, influenced by a close encounter to the deadly HIV epidemic, Hamuchtar wrote and staged “Imperial”, a show dedicated to AIDS and its social consequences. A year later, Hamuchtar left Israel and concentrated mainly on writing.

1993 „1,5“ and „Ice-cream“ - two short stories (Israel)

1994 Dance CD released by Head Artzi Record Co. after five successful singles

1994 ″Angel“ and ″Tears“ - music videos for these two pre-CD release singles, directed and produced by Hamuchtar (Israel)

1994 „Happy Birthday“ - theatre monologue (Israel)

1995 „Good Night“ - co-producer Nutty (Dance) . Project was halted and recordings lost

1996 „Slave“ CD coproduced with Uri Frost (London)

1996 „The Translated Mythology of the Truth“ - theatre monologue co-writer Maria Segura Thijssen (NL)

1997 „Death in an Armchair“ (Amsterdam, London)

1997 ″Vader Sport“ - director Femke for Dutch RTL TV featuring Hamuchtar (NL)

1997 „The Rising“ - adults puppet play (GB)

1998 ″Airport“ - directed by Gil Landberg for Israeli Television and taken to cinema the same year - supporting actor Hamuchtar (Israel)

1998 „Black Octopus“ - theatre play for five actors (GB)

1999 „Imperial“ - live CD with Doron Burstein-piano

1999 ″Jose“ - feature film directed by T. Genehar featuring Hamuchtar (Israel)

1999 „Inside a Woman’s Handbag“ - screen play transliterated by Annie Kelley (GB)

2000 „Cocktail“ - 17 all-time tracks (Israel)

2000 ″Paradiso“ - 40 min ambient video, directed and acted by Hamuchtar (Israel)

2001 „Dirty little thing“ -with Doron Burstein (Berlin)

2001 „Above the lower “Urban gospels with Oly (London)

2001 „Last Coffee“ a theatre play (GB)

2002 „Allenby“ a CD diving into the darkest of Yemenite music with Reuven Natan (Israel)

2003 „Berlin Nights“ -with Doron Burstein (Berlin)

2003 ″Entertaining little night display“ -2 hours film written and directed by Hamuchtar (D)

2003 „The cemetery“ a screen play (D)

2003/04 „Schwarzer Tintenfisch“ - filmscript for 8 actors, translated to German by Miri Kämpfer (D)

2004 „The Successful Show“- musicshow premiere at „Spirit“ (New York)

2005 „Half a zebra half a man“ one man freak show

2005 ″Digger“ a half an hour film showing Hamuchtar digging his own grave ( Berlin)

2005 ″Imperial“ - music video directed by Hamuchtar (Israel)

2005 ″Bordeaux“ - music video directed & edited by Hamuchtar (Israel)

In 2006, he returned to a full musical activity with successive CD releases:

2006 –“I am a Woman” - a campy, toyish cabaret album.

2006 „The fury of the Gutted Camel“ translated to German the same year by Manfred Niepel (D)

2007 –“ The Way of all Flesh” a drunkard praying to his gods through the drink

2007- “Social Club Metropolitan” a selection of songs in English

2007 ″Sports wear“and ″An Encore" - music video directed & edited by Hamuchtar (Berlin)

2007 ″The Moon and the Parthenon“ 1992 live show reedited and released on DVD (Berlin)

2007 „Good day for a pink Hat“ children book inc.illustrations translated to German by Cosima Lemke (D)

2008- “ The Blintches House” a collection of new and old songs

2008- “ Drum & prophecy” a charity album dedicated both in content and its charitable intention to victims of the Israeli-Arab conflict

2008 „Social club metropolitan“ an online CD

2009 – “Schlagerwurst”- Hamuchtar's take on German “Schlager” music

2009 ″Ra-ah“ a music video directed & edited by Hamuchtar

2009 ″Secret diaries of a lone voyeur“ 5 hours long ambient movie

2009 „The 13th month “ a children book inc.illustrations

2013 - „Yvonne” - An opera (composer and director), starring Daniella Lugassi, produced by "Fringe Opera Center", Tel-Aviv

2013 - „Yvonne” - An opera (composer and director), starring Daniella Lugassi, produced by "Fringe Opera Center", Tel-Aviv. Premiered in Tel-aviv Central Bus Station's site.

2014 - „The Plastic Wood” - A theatre play (writer and director), Karov Theatre.

2014 The Kindergarten Teacher, Israeli feature directed by Nadav Lapid; Hamuchtar acted the part of a poetry teacher (Israel)

2014 - „The Plastic Wood” - A theatre play for 5 actors(writer and director), Karov Theatre, Israel. Premiered in the "Citizen Here Festival".

2015 - „Electric Palm Tree show”- „Peach Moon Festival”, Tokyo. Penguin, Tel Aviv. „Musrara Mix Festival”, Jerusalem.

2015 - „The Dyke” - Utopic Middle-Eastern opera (composer and director). Premiered in Cameri Theater, Tel Aviv.

2015 „Electric Palm Tree show”- „Peach Moon Festival”, Tokyo. Penguin, Tel Aviv. „Musrara Mix Festival”, Jerusalem

2015 - „The Dyke” - Utopic Middle-Eastern opera (composer and director). Premiered in Cameri Theater, Tel Aviv.

2017 - „Null Stern Hotel” - With opera singer Niva Eshed (composer and director). Premiered in Neu West Berlin, Berlin.

2017 - „Null Stern Hotel” - With opera singer Niva Eshed (composer and director). Premiered in „Neu West Berlin”, Berlin.