Syrian National Symphony Orchestra

The Syrian National Symphony Orchestra (Arabic: الفرقة السيمفونية الوطنية السورية‎, al-firqah as-sīmfūniyyah al-waṭaniyyah as-sūriyyah) is the national symphony orchestra of Syria. Its home venue is the Damascus Opera House, and many of its members have been educated at the Higher Institute for Music in the same cultural complex on Umayyad Square in a central location of Damascus.[1]

Syrian National Symphony Orchestra
الفرقة السيمفونية الوطنية السورية
Formation1993
TypeSymphony orchestra
HeadquartersDamascus Opera House
Conductor
Missak Baghboudarian
Parent organization
General Association of Dar al-Assad for Culture and Arts

History and musical activities

The orchestra was founded by Iraqi-born composer and musician Solhi al-Wadi, who was also its first conductor, as well as the director of the Higher Institute for Music in Damascus,[2] and gave its first public concert in 1993. On 4 September 1998, it performed in the United States, at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. [3] The orchestra has its permanent home in the Damascus Opera House,[4] and its principal conductor is the Syrian maestro Missak Baghboudarian, who received his academic training in Italy.[1]

The orchestra's repertoire includes both Western classical music, as well as works by contemporary Syrian composers, including MAias Alyamani,[5] Malek Jandali,[6] or Zaid Jabri.[7] - A charity concert by the orchestra on 3 February 2009 raised $110,000 for an UNRWA campaign for the children of Gaza.[8]

Apart from the symphony orchestra, there was also is a Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music, that had been performing classical Arabic music, with musicians like Syrian oud virtuoso Issam Rafea,[9] trained in this musical tradition of the Middle East.[10]

Due to the ongoing civil war in Syria, many musicians have left the country for exile in Europe, the US or other countries, but still, the musical audience in Damascus, as well as the authorities and remaining musicians, continue with concerts and other musical activities.[11][12] In July 2020, the SNSO participated with an online performance from Damascus of Beethoven's Eroica symphony in a series of friendship concerts, where Italian conductor Riccardo Muti conducted his Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra with Syrian guest musicians in Ravenna, Italy.[13]

References
  1. Classical music, with a Syrian twist: The elite Syrian National Symphony Orchestra finds a novel way to build an audience. Accessed August 2013.
  2. "International Directory of Music and Music Education Institutions". idmmei.org. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  3. Syrian Symphony Scores Success in California Debut. Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. Accessed August 2013.
  4. The Syrian Symphony Orchestra. The General Association of Dar al-Assad for Culture and Arts. Accessed August 2013.
  5. "Longa Nehawand, Maias Alyamani & Maria Arnaout with SNSO - Damascus". Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  6. Jandali, Malek. "Yafa - live at the Damascus Opera House with The Syrian Symphony Orchestra". Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  7. "Zaid Jabri". Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  8. Syrian National Symphony Orchestra and Syrian Military Band Help Gaza Children. United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. Hala Mukhles. Accessed August 2013.
  9. The Kennedy Center. "Issam Rafea". www.kennedy-center.org. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  10. "Issam Rafea – Crossing Borders Music". Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  11. Boulos, Nabih (23 March 2018). "Dozens of musicians have fled or been killed. Yet, in war-torn Syria, the orchestra plays on". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  12. Sabbagh, Hazem (13 January 2018). "Syrian National Symphony Orchestra celebrates silver jubilee next Monday at Dar al-Assad for Culture and Arts". Syrian Arab News Agency. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  13. AP, Colleen Barry |. "Muti conducts Syria musicians in memorial concert amid ruins". Washington Post. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
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