Ivan Fischer gives free concert with players from Russia, Ukraine, Israel and Palestine
OrchestrasThe Budapest Festival Orchestra will give a free concert on August 31 on Heroes’ Square with musicians from both sides of two conflicts.
JS Bach’s concerto for two violins will feature Diana Tishchenko from Ukrainian Crimea with Moscow-born Alexander Sitkovetsky. The Israeli Idan Raichel will perform three of his compositions, accompanied by the Palestinian oud-player Taiseer Elias (who is an Israeli citizen, teaching at Haifa University).
In the second half, Fischer will conduct the finale of Mahler’s 3rd symphony.
Taiseer Elias is an israeli Arab and as far as I remember he teaches at the Haifa University.
If one concert was bound to be promoted on SD, it would be this one – for all the right reasons. As if bringing together two pairs of warring factions was not enough you have Mahler 3 as the second half! I hope the seats are comfortable. Is Fischer hoping to beat Trump to the Nobel Peace Prize with this effort? (Rather him than DT, don’t get me wrong)
Another victim suffering from TDS, hope you seek help and if nothing else go on a fact finding tour. For me I see Germany, France, Sweden, England losing their nations to hoards of non-assimilating aliens. Trump is the only person willing to stand up against the invasion of the U.S. I’ll take him any day. He understands sovereignty.
Hmm, sovereignty. A weird euphemism for fascism. Very weird.
Sovereignity of what exactly? Considering the US is per definition a nation based on immigration and was built on the very principle of giving immigrants a fair chance and promise like no other nation gave to immigrants.
You need to think more about your premises.
A beautiful example of what making music can represent.
And a cristall clear example of instrumentalizing frivolously public conflict and human suffering for personal interest and public projection. If he wants to help he organizes the concert and dors not conduct himself – but alas, then he does not get the picture he wants
Yes, if only Russian, Ukrainian, Israeli and Hamas fighters woul sit together and play classical music, all those problems would suddenly disappear.
John, you could write a quartet for that group. But please don’t, the world is suffering enough right now.
Entirely agreed. Look at the suffering on these pages!
Sally
More of this sort of thing please……..it can and should be done and showcased more often. If musicians can’t work together peacefully without predjudice and political boundaries then there’s no hope anywhere.
I have a lot of respect for Ivan Fischer, but…
But we need to put an end to the naivety that orchestras performing in authoritative countries like North Korea or pick-up orchestras of mixed nationalities are going to bring about peace.
And you cannot have it both ways, using an orchestra to make a political statement, and then later claim that politics has no place in music.
Music may make life and the world more interesting, but it won’t save the world.
Music reminds people of their humanity, it strips back national identities to notes and phrases and emotions. We are all equals before the majesty of music and nature. Iván is simply showing that by putting this concert on. will it lead to peace? of course not, but the point is to show that we can all co-exist and should strive to be better, isn’t that the whole credo of Beethoven and then enlightenment? the brotherhood of mankind?
Idealistic? yes of course, but without it we have what we have, so I rather the ideal.
Initiatives of this kind might not “save the world” nor “bring about peace”, but they have achieved a lot more in furtherance of these causes than the politicians. It is precisely *because* music has the capacity to unite us despite differences of nationality, race, political perspective, religion, &c. that “politics has no place in music”.
Arguendo, even if so, why shouldn’t we have something that is (at least) trying to contribute to peacebuilding?
Even if cultural projects tend to be naive sometimes, they are one of (rather few) examples of what still unites us.
Of course, these projects alone do not suffice if not supported by economic, political processes, etc. They are but a small step, but at least in a right way. That’s why I think that these concerts deserve to be helped.
Also please bear in mind that what you branded as pick-up orchestras of mixed nations is an experience not only for audiences but also for players.
Of course it won’t. But still I say “Bravo!” for trying.
Your argument is fallacious. Because musical expression of human peaceful collaboration across ethnical and national borders can’t save the world single handedly, it is not even worth excercising it?
The point is, that such symbolism is empty virtue signalling, appropriating catastrophic suffering in the real world to enhance one’s image without making any sacrifice. It is a totally empty gesture meant for marketing purposes.