If musicians of different backgrounds, cultures and styles can put their differences aside to play in peace and harmony, why should this not extend to politicians.
By JONATHAN GOLDSTEINvalery gergiev 224.88(photo credit: Courtesy)
The World Orchestra for Peace will perform a concert at the Jerusalem Theater on Sunday, October 19th. Under the tutelage of conductor Valery Gergiev, the orchestra brings together 90 players from all over the world, representing 70 of the world's top orchestras - a veritable dream team of the musical orchestra business - as well as a mission to promote unity, peace and harmony through the power of music.
From its establishment by conductor Georg Solti, the orchestra sought to demonstrate the power of music as an ambassador of peace. In preparing for the United Nations 50th anniversary celebration, then Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali asked Solti to put together an orchestra for the event. Solti assembled a cast that he regarded as a "United Nations of musicians." Inspired by the experience, he remarked, "We are about forty nations in this orchestra, [and] we live in such harmony, playing so beautifully [together], we prove we can live in peace. I wish politicians, left and right, could do the same."
While preparing for a second performance for the inaugural concert of the new Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden, Solti died suddenly. Director Charles Kaye, who has been involved since the project's birth, approached Gergiev, the man Solti regarded as his natural successor, to be the orchestra's new conductor. The success of this second concert yielded enthusiasm for continuing the endeavor.
Kaye speaks highly of Gergiev, "[He is] a master of molding so many individual styles into a homogeneous whole; it is a great challenge to do this in three days." The players are concertmasters in their own right, yet are required to adapt to a situation in which the entire orchestra is made up completely of masters. Despite the possible urge to vie for first chair, the musicians display humility for the sake of the orchestra. The individual must utilize his own unique talents while blending with the other orchestra members.
The World Orchestra for Peace will perform the thirteenth concert of its 12-year existence. A performance cannot be booked as the initiative comes only from the orchestra. The long overdue Jerusalem concert will be the first performed in a region currently suffering from major conflict. The orchestra boasts one Palestinian and nine Israeli members.
In addition to the audience at the Jerusalem Theater, thousands more will have the opportunity to experience the event with a live broadcast to be screened in the theater's plaza. The evening will feature pieces specially chosen for the event including Mahler's Symphony No. 5 and Roxanna Panufnik's biblically themed Three Paths to Peace, a piece inspired by the patriarch and common father to the three major monotheistic religions, Abraham.
Arcadi Gaydamak, a personal friend of the conductor, generously supports the concert. The irony of an alleged arms dealer sponsoring a performance by the World Orchestra for Peace was not lost on Kaye. He asserts, however, "I don't have a problem with his sponsorship at all…I certainly would not presume to judge a man based on a trial that's only just started." Furthermore, he cites an investigator from Global Witness who has been working on the Gaydamak case for an extended period of time as reporting, "as far as I can see, and I've taken the time and trouble, this man has never traded a weapon in his life."
The underlying principle remains potent, if musicians of different backgrounds, cultures and styles can put their differences aside to play in peace and harmony, why should this not extend to politicians. Jerusalem is as important a place as any to address this pursuit, and perhaps the region may learn something from the orchestra's example.
Tickets for the event may be ordered at (02) 623-7000 or (02) 560-5755. Show starts at 8:30 p.m.
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