It is said that music transcends language and culture. It has the power to unify people and also offers a window to the world for us to get inspired and soar over the mundane.
When on Wednesday Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) presented a special concert to mark 10th anniversary of its first concert conducted in October of 2008, it was a milestone in the cultural landscape of Qatar. It was a visionary decision by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), to start a project whose musical journey has inspired multitudes in Qatar and all over the world.
In a short span of 10 years, the orchestra, a member of QF, has made a name for itself among the top orchestras of the world. They have held concerts at top venues all over the world including such iconic places like Royal Albert Hall in London, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris and the Syrian Opera House in Damascus.
Promoting composers and musicians from the region is an important part of QPO’s mission. They have provided a platform for numerous new and established composers, soloists, and conductors from the Arab world to showcase their skills.
According to Kurt Meister’s, Executive Director, QPO, they have introduced a fusion of Arabic and Western cultural expression to Qatar, the region and the rest of the world - through music.
This is a not a small achievement considering the amount of conflicts the world is going through due to misrepresentation and misunderstanding of cultures and lack of empathy.
Arts and music in general helps bridge the differences between cultures and create an understanding and bond between people and nations. Qatar, through QPO and other such entities like Katara, has done a lot to introduce people to various art forms and cultural ethos of different countries from around the world.
Renowned conductor Dmitrij Kitajenko was the Conductor of Honor at the anniversary concert and had an almost identical programme to the inaugural concert, which was conducted by the legendary composer and conductor Loren Maazel.
The words of Machaille Al Naimi, President of Community Development, QF, sums up the importance of QPO and music to the local community and its citizens and residents.
“The orchestra reflects Qatar Foundation’s commitment to nurturing creativity, fostering social interaction, and enhancing the cultural fabric of Qatar.”
And there is no better way to do it than through music.
