Budapest Festival Orchestra Unites Artists to Promote Peace

Iván Fischer conducting The Budapest Festival Orchestra (BFO) will host a free concert titled “Concert for Peace,” featuring guest artists from Ukraine, Russia, Israel, and Palestine, on August 31 at 7 p.m. in Budapest’s Heroes̵

By: hungarytoday.hu

Aug 07 2024
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Budapest Festival Orchestra Un

Iván Fischer conducting

The Budapest Festival Orchestra (BFO) will host a free concert titled “Concert for Peace,” featuring guest artists from Ukraine, Russia, Israel, and Palestine, on August 31 at 7 p.m. in Budapest’s Heroes’ Square.

Traditionally the BFO organizes a free open-air summer concert before the start of the official concert season. This year’s program aims to highlight the human suffering caused by armed conflicts and to advocate for peace, respect, friendship, and love.

The concert program includes “Plea for Peace” by American composer Augusta Read Thomas, performed by BFO musicians and German soprano Mirella Hagen. Ukrainian violinist Diana Tishchenko and Russian violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky will play solo parts in Bach’s Violin Concerto in D minor. Israeli singer-songwriter Idan Raichel and Palestinian artist Taiseer Elias will also perform together.

The concert will conclude with the grandiose finale of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, conducted by Iván Fischer.

Maestro Fischer, reflecting on his experiences conducting in Israel, emphasized the power of music to bridge divides and heal wounds caused by war. His previous work, “The Compassion,” which incorporated interludes of various stories of suffering into the St. Matthew Passion, showcased collaboration between Israeli and Palestinian artists. Iván Fischer expressed that the Budapest concert continues this mission of promoting peace and mutual respect through music. The series of “peace concerts” is planned to continue in Istanbul in November.

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