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Russian Orchestra Plays Bach Amid Ruins of Palmyra

Russian conductor Valery Gergiev leads a concert by the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra in the amphitheatre of the ancient city of Palmyra on May 5, 2016. - Vasily Maxmimov—AFP/Getty Images
Russian conductor Valery Gergiev leads a concert by the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra in the amphitheatre of the ancient city of Palmyra on May 5, 2016. Vasily Maxmimov—AFP/Getty Images
By Tara John
May 6, 2016 8:29 AM EDT

A Russian symphony orchestra played a surprise concert in Syria’s ruins of Palmyra, on the site where ISIS killed 25 people in 2015.

Russia’s Mariinsky Theatre performed in a Roman amphitheater to a crowd that included flown-in reporters, Syrian soldiers, Russian officials and UNESCO dignitaries, reports the New York Times. Thursday’s concert comes after Russia’s military helped dictator Bashar al Assad’s forces push ISIS out of the area.

 

Chief conductor of the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra Valery Gergiev greets the public after a concert in in the Palmyra amphitheater in Syria, on May 5, 2016. - Sergei Chirikov—EPA
Chief conductor of the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra Valery Gergiev greets the public after a concert in in the Palmyra amphitheater in Syria, on May 5, 2016. Sergei Chirikov—EPA

 

In this photo released by Russian Ministry of Defence, conductor Valery Gergiev leads a concert by the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra in the Palmyra amphitheater in Syria, on May 5, 2016. - Russian Ministry of Defence/Reuters
In this photo released by Russian Ministry of Defence, conductor Valery Gergiev leads a concert by the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra in the Palmyra amphitheater in Syria, on May 5, 2016. Russian Ministry of Defence/Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin, via a live video feed (screen at right), delivers a speech during a concert by the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra in Palmyra amphitheater in Syria, on May 5, 2016. - Sergei Chirikov—EPA
Russian President Vladimir Putin, via a live video feed (screen at right), delivers a speech during a concert by the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra in Palmyra amphitheater in Syria, on May 5, 2016. Sergei Chirikov—EPA

Led by renowned Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, the symphony orchestra played Bach as well as pieces by two Russian composers. Cellist Sergei P. Roldugin, a close associate of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin whose tax affairs came under scrutiny in the Panama Papers, also performed with the orchestra.

In a video link from his vacation home, Putin thanked the musicians saying that the performance gave “hope for Palmyra’s revival as the heritage of the whole community” reports the Times. “But also as hope that our contemporary civilization will be relieved from this horrible disease, international terrorism.”

[NYT]

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