The world premiere of the Desert Rose Symphony, which celebrates the country’s culture and heritage was held yesterday at the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ). A public performance will be conducted today in the same location.
The performance marked the Year of Culture programme’s 10th anniversary. The event was attended by Qatar Museums Chairperson, H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani along with Ambassadors who partnered for the said programme since 2012, including those of Japan, UK, Brazil, Türkiye, China, Germany, Russia, India, France, USA and the MENASA region.
Speaking on the occasion Sheikha Mayassa said: “When Qatar won the rights to host the FIFA World Cup, we mapped out a Year of Culture plan to bring the world to Qatar and Qatar to the world. Ever since, we have joined with another nation each year for a far-reaching programme of bilateral cultural exchange.”
“Strengthening relationships with the partner nations and fostering mutual understanding between the people of the two countries, the Years of Culture helped us show the best of ourselves, carrying us towards the goals of the Qatar National Vision. This year, we are welcoming everyone to the World Cup and celebrating a Year of Culture with all the nations of the MENASA region.
“I am truly thankful for their support and grateful to the Ambassadors and officials who have joined together to realise our vision.”
The symphony is composed by prominent Syrian-American composer, Malek Jandali who is also Qatar Museum’s new honorary Composer-in-Residence.
He explained that the said work aims to “preserve and present the Qatari heritage and integrate them into a series symphonic work.” The music also brings interesting rhythms of Qatar, from the dances and music of the land and sea.
The symphony is the culmination of four years of research and exploration, during which Jandali entrenched himself in the sounds and landscapes of Qatar to preserve and present Qatari cultural heritage and traditions on the global stage.
“Bringing these rhythmic patterns into symphonic structure is important in my journey into the modernity of classical music, it needs a special craftsmanship, artistic excellence, a vision, leadership to bring us all together for the creation of the performance.”
The commemorative symphony, commissioned by the Year of Culture, was performed by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) with Grammy-nominated guest conductor Alastair Willis.
Speaking to reporters, QPO Executive Director, Kurt Meister said: “We are happy we could perform this piece for the first time and I think it’s very nice. It’s a great music.”
He also revealed that a similar concert will also be conducted during the World Cup. “We will repeat this in the regular concert, I have spoken already with the conductor and invited him to do the programme during the season.”
The symphony comprises three interlaced musical forms. One is a Qatari symphonic suite based on traditional folk music and dances using the principal of contrast: Movements II, III, V and VII. The second is a traditional “old-fashioned” symphony of four Movements I, IV, VI and IX. The third combines the first two “symphonies” with Movement VIII, which brings about the grandiose conclusion of The Desert Rose.
