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.