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Ailyn Agonia
Doha
A YEAR-long International Chamber Music Concert Series for Peace and Unity kicked off with a classical music concert held in honour of French composer and pioneer of the new French classical music Claude Debussy (1862-1918) at Mondrian Doha on Tuesday.
The opening concert of the season organised by the French Embassy, The French Institute to the State of Qatar and the Qatar Chamber Music Society brought to Doha French mezzo-soprano Ambroisine Bre who moved the audience with her renditions of the programme's select repertoire accompanied by Doha-based musicians Sonja Park (piano), Dmitri Torchinsky (violin) and Hassan Moataz El Molla (cello).
"This concert supports non-profit foundation 'Moving Young Artists (MYA)' founded by my dear friend Sonja Park. I thank all our generous partners for once again supporting our cultural events," French Ambassador to Qatar HE Eric Chevallier said in a statement.
MYA, which was also founded by Park, aims to promote music and nurture young talents in Qatar. Park, co-founder of Qatar Chamber Music Society and the concert's artistic director, said on the occasion,"Music is a powerful tool, a global language and a cultural glue that binds nations together with its messages of peace and unity. I am sure that these concerts, featuring renowned international artists such as Bre, will embrace our deepest emotions and set them free. For music brings us all together by unlocking great values within us, such as love, self-belief, empathy, solidarity, non-violence, peace and unity, among others."
The concert started with Sonata for Violin and Piano in G Minor, Allegro vivo, Intermede-fatasque et leger, Finale tres anime performed by Park and Torchinsky. It was followed by Bre's performance of poems by Paul Verlaine.
The featured artists proceeded with the chamber music concert with renditions of masterpieces of other French composers Camille Saint-Saens, Gabriel Faure and Eugene Anthiome. They wrapped up the evening with Debussy's compositions.
The International Chamber Music Concert Series for Peace and Unity is co-organised by the Chamber Music Society of Qatar and the embassies of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands and the UK. After the French Embassy, one of the remaining five missions will host the next concert for the series. (PHOTOGRAPH BY JALAL PATHIYOOR)
