Symphony of Cultures
December 2021 - June 2022
HATAY
The Symphony of Cultures project aimed to open a space for the rebuilding of tolerance among individuals of different religions, sects and nationalities, which has been evident in Hatay in the past, and to create a platform to boost intercultural interaction today. Symphony of Cultures set out to to collect, arrange and perform folk tunes of different languages, religions and sects in Hatay and nearby regions in a symphonic style. A polyphonic choir was formed through auditions for Symphony of Cultures, and the project began its work with the education of the chorists provided by the vocal and musical trainers of the orchestra. A special repertory was prepared for the concerts that are part of the scope of the project, and after the orchestral arrangements of the selected works are done; rehearsals was held together with the orchestra and the choir. The Symphony of Cultures met the audiences with two concerts with wide participation in June. The first concert took place at the Sumerians Amphitheatre located between Antakya and Defne Districts, and the second concert at the historical Armenian Church in Batıayaz Village in Samandağ District. Prioritising the inclusion of women, LGBTI+ community, refugees, and individuals from other minority groups, and especially reaching out to people who are having difficulties accessing artistic activities, the project created a timeless art pool by creating video and audio library on social media, in order to make its activities sustainable and universally accessible.
