Symphony for Palestine

AIC | 27 mai 2013 | From the 30th of May until the 2nd of June the Dresdner Sinfoniker and the Italian conductor Andrea Molino will, for the first time,….

AIC | 27 mai 2013 |

From the 30th of May until the 2nd of June the Dresdner Sinfoniker and the Italian conductor Andrea Molino will, for the first time, perform “Symphony for Palestine” by the Iranian composer and Kamancheh virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor in Ramallah, East Jerusalem and Jenin.

Music has the ability to open up new worlds and, being a universal language, it easily transcends borders- be they national, cultural or social. It is a strong force that brings people together and can trigger intense experiences. Utilising this unique quality of music the Dresdner Sinfoniker bring their ambitious musical project to the region, which initially inspired it. “Symphony for Palestine” is an extraordinary collaboration between a German orchestra and Palestinian and Azerbaijani musicians. As the piece was composed especially for Palestine, and is dedicated to its people, it will be of particular relevance to perform it there.

Musically, Kayhan Kalhor’s “Symphony for Palestine” transcends as many borders as the concert tour, itself. It combines traditional Persian melodies and elements of Arabic folk music with the sound of a European string orchestra- accompanied by traditional Oriental instruments, such as Oud, Kamancheh or Qanun. The eclectic and multi-layered opus is stirring, full of both sorrow and hope.

“Symphony for Palestine” is dedicated to two Palestinians: Juliano Mer-Khamis, the murdered director of Jenin’s Freedom Theatre, as well as to the eleven-year old Ahmed Khatib, shot dead in 2005 by an Israeli soldier, who mistook the boy’s water pistol for an armed weapon. His story went around the world, because his parents donated Ahmed’s organs to five Israeli children.

For many years now, the Dresdner Sinfoniker have been strongly involved with contemporary Oriental culture and this challenging project brings them to Palestine for the first time.

We are looking forward to welcome you to one of our concerts. Would you be so kind to announce the concert tour on your homepage and inform your partners? For ticket reservations please write an email to tickets (at) dresdner-sinfoniker (dot) de.

“Symphony for Palestine” is a cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Culture, sponsored by the ‘Kulturstiftung des Bundes’, the city of Dresden (department of culture and heritage), the ‘Kulturstiftung des Freistaates Sachsen’ as well as the ‘Kulturstiftung Dresden der Dresdner Bank’ and a co-production of the ‘Dresdner Sinfoniker’ and Ben Deiß.

For further information please visit www.symphonyforpalestine.com and www.dresdner-sinfoniker.de.

Press Conference

In the occasion of their concert tour to Israel and the West Bank, the Dresdner Sinfoniker cordially invite you to the press conference on Tuesday, 28th May 2013, at 11 am at the Al Hakawati Theatre at Abu Ubaida Street in East-Jerusalem. Markus Rindt, Director of the Dresdner Sinfoniker, Ben Deiß, Producer, Andrea Molino, Conductor, and Mohammad Halayka, Director of the Al Hakawati Theatre, will present you the project Symphony for Palestine in detail.

Please confirm your attendance until 27th May 2013 via email to press (at) Dresdner-sinfoniker (dot) de.

Press Conference

30th May 2013, 11:00 am East Jerusalem, Al Hakawati Theatre

Tour Dates

30th May 2013, 7:30 pm Ramallah, Cultural Palace

1st June 2013, 7:30 pm East Jerusalem, Al Hakawati Theatre

2nd June 2013, 7:30 pm Jenin, Cinema Jenin