The Zamirchor Bayreuth, a symbol of the unifying power of music, invites you to two extraordinary peace concerts. These will take place on September 24, 2024 at 7 pm in the renowned Bamberg Concert Hall under the patronage of the Bavarian State Minister for Science and Art Markus Blume, and on September 25, 2024 at 7:30 pm in the historic Gethsemane Church in Berlin.
The peace concert in Bamberg will take place in light of the war and escalation in the Middle East. Both concerts are dedicated to peace.
The peace concert in Berlin takes place as a call for democracy and international understanding. Both concerts are dedicated to peace and pay tribute to important anniversaries: 75 years of the Basic Law, 35 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall, 35 years of the democracy movement in Eastern Europe and 200 years of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. These milestones remind us of the achievements of the past and at the same time remind us to uphold the values of freedom, democracy and international understanding in the future.
Youngkwang Jeon
Under the direction of the renowned conductor Youngkwang Jeon, a great young talent from South Korea, the Klassische Philharmonie Bonn, musicians from the Transcarpathian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra Uzhgorod (Ukraine) as well as international soloists and choirs unite to form an impressive ensemble.
Under the direction of the renowned conductor Youngkwang Jeon, a great young talent from South Korea, the Klassische Philharmonie Bonn, musicians from the Transcarpathian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra Uzhgorod (Ukraine) as well as international soloists and choirs unite to form an impressive ensemble.
A special highlight is the gathering of outstanding choirs from different countries. The Zamirchor (Bayreuth) will take to the stage together with the Ashirachor and the Misgavchor from Galilee (Israel), the Capella Anima from Plovdiv (Bulgaria), the Coro San Carlo from Pesaro (Italy) and the Ensemble ExSilentio (Dresden). This impressive choral cast will be complemented by the children's choir “Zamirsternchen” from Bayreuth (Germany), whose angelic voices will give you goosebumps.
The performers embody the diversity and richness of different cultures and impressively demonstrate how music can build bridges and bring people together across all borders. Each individual artist brings their own musical tradition and training with them, yet fits harmoniously into the overall ensemble. This extraordinary meeting of musicians from different nations and cultural backgrounds promises a concert experience in a class of its own that will take the audience on a journey of understanding, togetherness and peace. Ukrainians, German Russians, Germans, Israelis, Italians and Bulgarians will perform side by side.
The program promises an unforgettable evening: Beethoven's 9th Symphony (4th movement), a work that has been recognized worldwide as a symbol of freedom and brotherhood since its premiere 200 years ago, will kick things off. This is followed by Schönberg's poignant composition “A Survivor from Warsaw”, which vividly recalls the horrors of the Holocaust and calls for remembrance. The crowning finale is the world premiere of “Dreamzoned” by up-and-coming Hollywood film music composer Lukas Geppert, whose work interweaves intercultural musical motifs and builds emotional bridges.
The Zamir Choir can look back on an impressive history: since its foundation in 2006, it has already given major performances at the United Nations in New York and Geneva as well as in Israel, Poland, Moldova and Ukraine. These concerts have strengthened cultural and historical ties between the countries and promoted dialog between Jews and Christians. The founder of the choir, Barbara Baier, was recently awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for her outstanding commitment.
The peace concert project conveys timeless values such as peace, freedom and brotherhood through the universal language of music. It promotes intercultural exchange, contributes to the healing of historical wounds and sends a powerful signal for international understanding and cohesion. The carefully selected works are not only for artistic enjoyment, but are also a powerful appeal to work together for peace across all borders.
The participation of the international choirs underlines the global message of the project and the importance of cultural exchange. The inclusion of these countries sends a strong signal for the cohesion of peoples and the overcoming of borders. This cross-border collaboration embodies the deep conviction that music is a universal language that can connect people across all barriers.
The works of Beethoven, Schönberg and Geppert reflect a dialog that already drove the creative power of these composers and has lost none of its urgency today, given the ongoing armed conflicts worldwide. Their compositions remind us that the themes they dealt with are still of burning relevance today. The performance of these musical masterpieces emphasizes that it is a shared responsibility of all people to take an active stance against the ongoing conflicts and wars that continue to shape our world today.
The Zamir Choir exemplifies the power of music to unite people across historical, cultural and religious boundaries and to promote a dialog that contributes to the healing of historical wounds and the building of a common, peaceful future. The ensemble's membership of the Franconian Singers' Association and its recognition as a performance choir underline its artistic value and social significance.
The choice of the Gethsemane Church in Berlin as the venue for the peace concert is of great historical significance and underlines the message of democracy and international understanding in an impressive way.
The Gethsemane Church played a central role during the peaceful revolution in the GDR in 1989. In the months leading up to the fall of the Wall, the church became an important meeting place for civil rights activists, opposition activists and people who longed for freedom and democracy. Prayers for peace and discussion events were held here regularly, which became a catalyst for the growing protest movement.
The events of October 1989 are particularly noteworthy: on October 2, thousands of people gathered in and around the Gethsemane Church to protest against the arrest of demonstrators in Leipzig 4 . The church offered the activists a protected space in which they could organize themselves and formulate their demands for reform and democratic change. The prayers for peace and vigils in the Gethsemane Church became a symbol of non-violent resistance and the longing for an end to the SED dictatorship.
The peaceful protest that emanated from the Gethsemane Church contributed significantly to the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989 and the reunification of Germany. Since then, the church has stood as a memorial to the power of non-violent resistance and the importance of civil courage and civic participation in a democracy.
By taking place in the Gethsemane Church, the Berlin Peace Concert is a link to this eventful history and a reminder of the courageous people who stood up for freedom, human rights and democracy. It is a highly symbolic place that embodies the values that are still of vital importance today, 35 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The combination of the historical role of the Gethsemane Church with the other anniversaries - 75 years of the Basic Law, 35 years of the democracy movement in Eastern Europe and 200 years of Beethoven's 9th Symphony - creates an impressive setting for the peace concert. It is a reminder that the achievements of freedom, democracy and international understanding cannot be taken for granted, but must be defended again and again and filled with life. Music becomes a universal language that conveys these values in a touching way and connects people across borders.
The concerts are an impressive testimony to how music can build bridges: across political party lines, cultural differences, religious beliefs and national identities. It is powerful proof that through the universal language of music we are able to work together for peace across all borders!
Tickets for these extraordinary peace concerts are available at Reservix.
For the concert in Bamberg, it is also possible to book a shuttle bus from Bayreuth (departure 17:30 from the Volksfestplatz).
Further information on the Zamir Choir and its activities can be found at www.zamirchor.de and on Wikipedia.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to be part of a moving musical event that uses the power of music to unite people, promote peace and remind us of the values that hold our society together. Support the message of international understanding, reconciliation and hope for a better future with your presence at the Zamirchor's peace concerts!
If you want to be close to the artists, you have the opportunity to purchase limited additional options to further strengthen the peace project.
The Zamir Choir and the participating artists are looking forward to creating an unforgettable concert experience together with you and sending a strong signal for peace. Join us and let yourself be touched and inspired by the universal language of music!