Music, some say, is a universal language, one any person can use to communicate. As cultural differences and language barriers continue to fuel violent acts and political dispute around the world, some musicians have decided to use their life's passion to bridge the gap between citizens of different countries.
The Beginning: Music and the United Nations
In 1995, the United Nations celebrated its 50th anniversary. At their request, respected conductor Sir Georg Solti put together an orchestra made up of musicians from all over the world to perform.
Solti invited musicians from over forty countries to join the World Orchestra for Peace, and each one accepted instantly. The group's first performance was in Geneva in 1995.
The amazing music created by this group proved Solti's point: "We are about forty nations in this orchestra, and we live in such harmony, playing so beautifully together, we prove that we can live in peace. I wish politicians, left and right, could do the same."
Continuing the World Orchestra Legacy
Sadly, Solti passed away in September of 1997 during preparations for a second World Orchestra for Peace concert. Valery Gergiev, Solti's predecessor, took the reigns, and plans for a reunion were set into motion.
Since then, the World Orchestra has given over a dozen performances in cities all over the world, including London, Moscow, Beijing, Budapest, Jerusalem, and Brussels.
Assembling the World Orchestra for Peace
Putting together a tour involving such a vast amount of musicians, including rehearsal time, is extensive and complex. Players are accepted into the orchestra only through personal invitation, and are the top members of the most distinguished orchestras from around the world.
Needless to say, the logistics are complicated, not only because of distance and language barriers, but in that there are very different playing, tuning, and conducting styles to account for and meld into one flawless ensemble. Despite the difficulties, members are eager to participate and give energetic, passionate performances.
World Orchestra for Peace Recordings
The organization has three CDs of live performances available for purchase on their website. World Orchestra for Peace: The First Ten Years remembers Georg Solti and is a special CD/DVD edition. Two more CDs feature performances from the Credit Suisse Tour of 2005 and The Solti Memorial Tour of 2007.
World Orchestra for Peace Today
The World Orchestra's most recent performances include concerts in Krakow, Poland, and Stockholm, Sweden. These performances were to acknowledge the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II, and to mark the 200th anniversary of a peace treaty between Sweden and Finland.
The concerts included 'Prelude for Peace', by Krzysztof Penderecki, and Symphony No. 5 in C# minor, by Gustav Mahler.
This tour united 95 musicians from 75 different orchestras that sat side by side, harmonizing together despite being unable, in some cases, to communicate through language.
Musicians Making a Difference
To learn more about other musicians promoting peace and understanding around the world, check out Playing for Change.
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