JOIN 98.7 WFMT FOR A VERY SPECIAL CONCERT TONIGHT SEPT. 1 AT 7PM.
THE WORLD ORCHESTRA FOR PEACE (www.worldorchestraforpeace.com)
CONDUCTED BY VALERY GERGIEV IN CONCERT FROM CRACOW, POLAND
THE WORLD ORCHESTRA FOR PEACE WAS FOUNDED BY SIR GEORG SOLTI IN 1995 TO DEMONSTRATE “THE UNIQUE STRENGTH OF MUSIC AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE.”
THIS CONCERT IS TO COMMEMORATE THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEGINNING OF WORLD WAR II IN EUROPE…AND THE INVASION OF POLAND.
Kofi Annan, the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, wrote these welcoming words for the program booklet:
Four years ago, I had the great privilege to serve as the honorary Patron of the World Orchestra for Peace’s Anniversary Tour through the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia and China and to provide the introductory remarks for a booklet similar to this. Then, as now, the idea of the late Sir Georg Solti could not have been more relevant. In a world that continues to be marked by war and strife, the diverse orchestra which he created serves as a symbol of peace and a practical demonstration of humanity’s potential for harmony, tolerance and cooperation. Listening to the beautiful music performed by this Orchestra helps us to connect with our fellow human beings across different languages, cultures and traditions. The existence of this Orchestra reminds us that peace in our world is possible.
As we commemorate two events that could hardly be more different, the World Orchestra for Peace under Maestro Valery Gergiev is ideally suited, both for its unique composition and underlying ideals, to mark this historic occasion. Equally, Krakow could not be a more fitting location for the World Orchestra for Peace to perform as it witnessed both the dark hours of 1939 when the German invasion of Poland sparked the Second World War, and the bright dawn of 1989 that brought open societies across the whole of Europe. While remembrance of the former warns us of the terrible consequences of war, reflection on the latter raises the hope for democracy, freedom and the rule of law.
Much like the United Nations, the World Orchestra for Peace is in itself a message of peace. Let us hope that the title of the piece by Krzysztof Penderecki, which the Orchestra is performing publicly for the first time tonight, will once be used to describe our troubled times; that today’s prelude will indeed lead to a peace for all that is here to stay.
Kofi A. Annan
Kofi Annan Foundation
Recent Comments