Eden Ben Zaken's full circle moment: seven years of anticipation
The superstar returns to the stage of the biggest winter show and talks about the complex balancing act, the crazy schedule, and the huge difference from the last time she performed there.
At a festive launch event held at Cinema City Glilot, the official name, theme song, and plot line of the most sought-after winter show, "TOP SECRET Festigal," were revealed. This year, the show will take the audience into a thrilling world of espionage and music, centered on a group of young agents required to turn into a sparkling pop band within a month and participate in a music competition to save the world.
Alongside the reveal of the theme song and the continuation of the original song competition tradition, the cast was announced, including Noa Kirel, Ran Danker, Eliana Tidhar, Israel Atias, Yaniv Swissa, Daniel Stiopin, Shahar Taboch, Idan Telem, Hili Toledano, Omer Nudelman, Amir Banai, Shira Zaluf, Noa Astanjelov, and Dylan Dror. Taking the front of the stage is also this year's guest singer, Eden Ben Zaken.
For Ben Zaken, the return to the show's stage comes with a particularly emotional full circle moment, this time as a mother of two. When asked how it feels to return to the Festigal for the second time, she replied:
"The truth is that I am very excited to return to the Festigal after 7 years; last time I was pregnant, and today I am a mother of two."
As someone who grew up on the show's tradition herself, her connection to the event is completely natural. When asked if she was a "Festigal kid" herself, she said: "Of course, there is no one who didn't grow up on the Festigal; it is the most beautiful and special show there is for the whole family." Unlike last time, this time her own children will come to watch her up close. Answering the question of whether they will come to see her on stage this year, she shared with enthusiasm: "Yes! And I am so excited that they are coming, my Michel is very excited and is already waiting for it."
The singer's expected schedule includes an intense combination of rehearsals, filming for "The Voice," performances, and parenting. When asked how she manages to balance all the ends, she answered honestly:
"The truth is that it is a busy period, but thank God I am not complaining about anything; I am doing what I love most and I thank the Creator every day for everything."
