Switzerland's Israeli Duo Finishes Fifth

MAY 15 1963 · 12:00

Esther & Abi Ofarim · "T'en vas pas" · Switzerland · 1963 Placement: 5 · Score: 40 · Language: French · Composers: Hans Hauenstein, Georges Fragos · Venue: BBC Television Centre · Host: London, United Kingdom · Type: deep cut · Broadcast: pre color Esther and Abi Ofarim — Israeli married couple, Esther 20, Abi 25 — take the BBC Television Centre stage in matching formal attire for Switzerland. Abi's baritone harmonizes with Esther's clear soprano on a gentle French-language ballad. The Ofarims are the first Israeli Eurovision representatives — representing Switzerland a full ten years before Israel debuts as a country. 40 points for 5th place. Denmark's Grethe & Jørgen Ingmann win. Context The Ofarims were already pan-European folk-pop stars. Switzerland's broadcaster SSR-SRG-TSI had selected them on the strength of their international touring. Israel itself wouldn't debut at Eurovision until 1973. The Hebrew-Israeli identity was implicit rather than advertised. Legacy Esther & Abi Ofarim continued as duo until their 1969 divorce. Esther later sang in multiple European languages through the 1980s. Their 1963 appearance is now a curio of pre-Israel-EBU-membership Eurovision — proof that Israeli performers were present in the contest years before Israel as a nation was.