Press release

13 Nov 2009

Beirut

East and West Embrace in ESCWA Concert

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Music lovers flocked to the Maronite Cathedral of St. George in Downtown Beirut, Lebanon, last week to attend a special classical concert held on the occasion of the 35th Anniversary of ESCWA. The Commission’s Executive Secretary, Bader AlDafa, and the German Foundation Podium Junger Musiker had jointly extended the invitation to a concert entitled “Orient Meets Occident: the Arabian Passion according to J. S. Bach.” The concert was attended by representatives of the top three Lebanese leaders, with Information Minister Tarek Mitri representing the Lebanese President, MP Hagop Pakradonian representing the House Speaker and MP Bassem al Shab representing the Prime Minister. Also attending the event was Bishop Boulos Matar representing Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Sfeir, along with a host of political, diplomatic, economic, artistic and cultural figures, and UN staff. “Music is what remains in life. It is the language of all. Through it, peoples and nations rise, and with it, immortal images are painted throughout time,” said AlDafa, quoting French novelist Leon Bloy, at the opening of the concert to which 36 musicians and four singers lent their talents. “Peace is unquestionably what each one of us aspires to. For it to become a solid reality in our lives, and a culture for the coming generations, peace should blossom under the umbrella of economic, social and cultural development. Such was the message of ESCWA, ever since its inception in this precious region. The concert is part of a series of activities ESCWA is organizing to celebrate its 35th Anniversary. Earlier this month, the regional commission opened an exhibition at the UNESCO palace in Beirut for a group of pioneer Lebanese painters whose creative works helped maintain a colorful presence for their country on the Arab and international cultural scenes. The coming month, ESCWA will inaugurate another exhibit for talented UN staff who will display paintings, sculptures, photographs and other forms of artistic expression,” AlDafa said in his address. The head of the German Foundation Podium Junger Musiker, Willy Rellecke, commended for his part the cultural exchanges between East and West, emphasizing the significant contribution of music to breaking down borders, in a reference to the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, which Germany and Europe recently celebrated. The orchestra, directed by Valdimir Ivanoff, performed a great variety of pieces brilliantly mixing eastern with western tunes and melodies. ESCWA Holds Exhibition to Honor Lebanese Painters Also in the context of events marking its 35th Anniversary, ESCWA opened a public exhibition to honor pioneer Lebanese artists and painters in the beginning of November. To the notes of Caccini’s “Ave Maria,” sung by Lebanese Tenor Edgard Aoun, the regional commission inaugurated the exhibit to showcase some of the most illustrious works of 19 painters. Surrounded by representatives of the country's President, Prime Minister and House Speaker, and in the presence of diplomats, artists and socialites, ESCWA Executive Secretary Bader AlDafa and Lebanese Minister of Culture Tammam Salam cut the ribbon for the show at the UNESCO Hall in Beirut. “ESCWA is keen on having a hand in encouraging the cultural scene in the region, as is it committed to its economic and social missions,” AlDafa said in the opening ceremony. “ESCWA is honored by this crowd of pioneer Lebanese artists whose works served to preserve Lebanon’s position in the regional and international cultural scenes. This exhibition is one of the many forms of multiculturalism, and is a cultural expression that is by no means less significant than development projects in the economic and social spheres.” Minister Salam, for his part, commended AlDafa and ESCWA’s efforts to pay tribute to Lebanese artists. “This collection of creative paintings and works is the best representation of Lebanese glory,” he said.
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