Plea for Peace
Program
Augusta Read Thomas:
Plea for Peace
Mirella Hagen (soprano)
Johann Sebastian Bachbio:
Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043
Diana Tishchenko, Alexander Sitkovetsky (violin)
Idan Raichel:
Mikol Ha’Ahavot
Lifney SheYigamer
Shoshanim Atzuvot
Idan Raichel (vocals), Taiseer Elias (oud)
music and lyrics by Idan Raichel, arrangement by Yaron Gottfried
Gustav Mahlerbio:
Symphony No. 3 in d minor – 6th movement “Was mir die Liebe erzählt”
Featuring
Conductor
Featuring
- Mirella Hagen (soprano)
- Diana Tishchenko (violin)
- Alexander Sitkovetsky (violin)
- Idan Raichel
- Taiseer Elias (oud)
Other information
The event is about 1.0 hours long.
About the event
Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra invite Budapest to a free outdoor concert on August 31 beginning at 7 p.m. Entitled Plea for Peace, the performance hopes to use music as a means of calling for peace, respect, friendship and love. The line-up will feature the works of Bach, Mahler and two contemporary composers, and the BFO’s musicians will be joined this time by Ukrainian, Russian, Israeli and Palestinian guest performers.
The August 31 concert in Budapest’s Heroes’ Square will be held under the title Plea for Peace, and is intended to serve as a means of calling attention to the human suffering caused by armed conflicts and war in the world, and to take a stance for the values of peace, respect, friendship and love. The performance will feature international guest musicians who – by virtue of performing together – prove that music can alleviate mutual fears and mistrust.
Recognizing the suffering caused by wars, Iván Fischer has made an effort several times this year to seek opportunities to respond through art. Following his January visiting appearance as conductor in Israel, the Budapest Festival Orchestra, under his leadership, presented at Easter, a unique performance of the passion of Christ. Compassion, which supplemented the St. Matthew Passion with inserts reminiscent of other Passion stories, already demonstrated the power of making music together, involving Israeli and Palestinian musicians. The outdoor concert is an organic continuation of this initiative, with the BFO’s music director noting that, “The Budapest Festival Orchestra’s members will be joined this time by musicians from regions affected by war. Together, through music, we intend to express our shared hope that the suffering caused by armed conflict may end, and that the future will be based on mutual respect and peace.” The series of concerts taking a stance for peace is expected to continue in November in Istanbul.
Map of the Heroes' Square on the day of the concert: