Dresden Symphony Orchestra, otherwise know as Dresdner Sinfoniker , accomplished its long cherished goal of performing “Symphony for Palestine” in Palestine after years of effort.
The three night tour was capped off last night at Cinema Jenin in Jenin, home of the late Juliano Mer-Khamis’s Freedom Threatre. The symphony, by Iranian composer Kayhan Kalhor, is dedicated to Mer-Khamis along with Ahmed Khatib also from Jenin, two people whose lives were brutally cut short but whose contributions to the living are immeasurable.
“Symphony for Palestine” is an eclectic collaborative effort between Dresdner Sinfoniker, one of the leading symphonies for contemporary music, and Palestinian and Azerbaijani soloists. Dresdner Sinfoniker is famous for multi-cultural multi-genre music mixing classical, jazz, rock, and pop. This symphony was composed especially for Palestine and combines Arabic folk music with traditional Persian melodies accompanied by traditional Oriental instruments as well as a the European string orchestra.
Producers overcame many obstacles that had previously prevented the symphony from opening in occupied Palestine.
AFP:
Logistics and political factors had prevented “Symphony for Palestine” from going being taken to the West Bank since its launch three years ago, co-producers Markus Rindt and Benjamin Deiss said.
“There were many (Palestinian) musicians we just couldn’t work with” due to restrictions of movement in place under the Israeli army, Deiss explained.
All the Palestinian musicians on the project had to be ones based in annexed Arab east Jerusalem, with Israeli-issued ID cards that allow them freedom of movement, he said.
And Iranian composer Kalhor was unable to attend because of the hostile relations between Israel and Iran.
“He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to return to his homeland after going through Israel,” Rindt said.
“We only got visas for the Azerbaijanis on Friday last week,” he added.
Who cares about a high-brown symphony for Palestine by German and Palestinian high-brows?
We rather watch Paul Newman and his shiksa goddess in the classic film Exodus.
Wow. Chills down the spine beautiful. Even though I had to listen quietly (moggy thinks this is her room, and there’s five tiddlers to consider! – she grumbles at me. :( ).
Here’s one I haven’t had time to watch yet (just noticed it a few mins ago, have to watch tomorro) re the UEFA U21’s:
http://www.leftfutures.org/2013/06/state-of-play-euro-2013-football-and-palestine/
“In the autumn of 2011 Philosophy Football met Honey Thalijeh, then captain of the Palestine Women’s Football team. Inspired by what she told us about what football meant to her country we promised that when Euro 2013 opened in Israel we would be in Palestine.”
“Throughout the tournament Israel will do everything it can to keep attention away from football on the Palestinian side of the wall. Our film, shot over the pat few days will help to break this silence. On Tuesday it was premiered in Ramallah at the HQ of the Palestine Olympic Association and simultaneously released on YouTube.”