photo courtesy of worldorchestraforpeace.com
The World Orchestra for Peace is playing its 14th ever concert to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II.
John Beauchamp reports
Conductor Sir Georg Solti, who was the orchestra’s founder, was aiming for something higher in 1995 when he inaugurated the orchestra at the 50th anniversary of the United Nations, believing that ‘the unique strength of music as an ambassador for peace’ would ring out across the world. On the 1st September, Kraków will host the orchestra for their 14th ever appearance under the baton of Valery Gergiev, who took over the role after Sir Georg Solti suddenly passed away in 1997.
The World Orchestra for Peace is unique in the way that it is formed by musicians from 70 orchestras worldwide. It is to perform Mahler’s 5th symphony, as well as a premiere performance of Cracovian composer Krzysztof Penderecki’s ‘Prelude for Peace’, which was written especially for the occasion.
The commemorative concert is to be held in Krakow on the very day of the outbreak of war, and will be relayed live on Polish Television and also on Polish Radio 2, as well as a live video stream on CNN’s website.
More information can be found here.
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