02:41Syria: Valery Gergiev-led 'Praying for Palmyra' concert honours terror victims
World famous Russian conductor Valery Gergiev led the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra at a special concert in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra on Thursday.
The event was named ‘Pray for Palmyra: Music Revives Ancient Remains’ and was staged in the Roman amphitheatre which survived the occupation of the city by the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants. It was held in order to celebrate those who lost their lives in the liberation of the ancient city, including Aleksandr Prokhorenko, as well as those who have died in the wider scope of the conflict and the so-called international war on terror.
The orchestra played pieces by Sergei Prokofiev (Symphony No. 1), Johann Bach (Violin Partita No.2 in D minor) and the Quadrille from Not Love Alone by Rodion Shchedrin. In attendance were Russian military personnel, Syrian officials and members of the public.
Before the concert President Vladimir Putin gave a welcome address by satellite uplink from Sochi, thanking the organisers and those gathered for this “wonderful humanitarian action.” He labelled the event as “a sign of gratitude, memory and hope, of gratitude to everyone who is fighting terrorism and not even sparing their own lives.” The Russian leader went on to say that the concert was an act of “remembrance for all the victims of terror.”
In April, Palmyra was liberated by the Syrian Army from the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). Russian air strikes provided support to the Syrian armed forces in their re-taking of the town. Archaeologists all over the world anxiously awaited the liberation of the city to assess the damage of what is one of the gems of the ancient world. Palmyra was seized by the Islamic State in May 2015. Among the acts of destruction and vandalism perpetrated by the IS was the destruction of the Temple of Bel and the Temple of Baalshamin.
02:41World famous Russian conductor Valery Gergiev led the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra at a special concert in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra on Thursday.
The event was named ‘Pray for Palmyra: Music Revives Ancient Remains’ and was staged in the Roman amphitheatre which survived the occupation of the city by the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants. It was held in order to celebrate those who lost their lives in the liberation of the ancient city, including Aleksandr Prokhorenko, as well as those who have died in the wider scope of the conflict and the so-called international war on terror.
The orchestra played pieces by Sergei Prokofiev (Symphony No. 1), Johann Bach (Violin Partita No.2 in D minor) and the Quadrille from Not Love Alone by Rodion Shchedrin. In attendance were Russian military personnel, Syrian officials and members of the public.
Before the concert President Vladimir Putin gave a welcome address by satellite uplink from Sochi, thanking the organisers and those gathered for this “wonderful humanitarian action.” He labelled the event as “a sign of gratitude, memory and hope, of gratitude to everyone who is fighting terrorism and not even sparing their own lives.” The Russian leader went on to say that the concert was an act of “remembrance for all the victims of terror.”
In April, Palmyra was liberated by the Syrian Army from the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). Russian air strikes provided support to the Syrian armed forces in their re-taking of the town. Archaeologists all over the world anxiously awaited the liberation of the city to assess the damage of what is one of the gems of the ancient world. Palmyra was seized by the Islamic State in May 2015. Among the acts of destruction and vandalism perpetrated by the IS was the destruction of the Temple of Bel and the Temple of Baalshamin.