“Ode of a Rose ” a Syrian-Italian concert within the activities of (Damascene Rose in Sanremo 2024) project
Through a musical journey inspired by the Damascene rose, a Syrian-Italian concert was held yesterday evening entitled “Ode of a Rose ” within the activities of the Damascene Rose in Sanremo 2024 project in Italy.
The event was held by Syrian Trust for Development in cooperation with the Santagata Organization for the Economics of Culture, the Villa Ormond Institute and the Italian International Institute for Humanitarian Law.
At the beginning of the concert, President of the International Institute of Humanitarian Law explained to the audience the objectives of the Damascene Rose in Sanremo 2024 project and the cooperation with the Syrian Trust for Development and the need to consolidate cultural exchange to enhance human values and rights in protecting and preserving heritage, especially during the current period of wars and natural disasters.
As for the evening, it was full of the most beautiful Syrian musical pieces and traditional songs that formed the living memory of the Syrian people, presented by musicians Salah Namiq on the cello from Syria, Elias Habib on the percussion instrument from Palestine, Riccardo Pena, an Italian pianist and Thomas Milner, a player of wind and percussion instruments from Italy.
Syrian opera singer Mirna Qassis presented the song Nikal, which is the oldest Syrian musical notation known to the world, in addition to a collection of Syriac hymns, which are considered as the oldest forms of group singing in Syria, as well as traditional songs that tell stories about the Damascene rose.
In a statement to SANA, Kassis said: The selection of the concert’s program, which was arranged by Syrian musician Narek Abajian and under the supervision of Maestro Misak Baghboudrian, aims to present Syrian civilization and its diversity in a renewed manner to the Western listener.
Earlier on Wednesday and as a part of the activities of the (Damascene Rose In Sanremo 2024 ) Project, the Damascene rose was cultivated in the rose garden in Villa Ormond, as a present from the people of Syria.
An exhibition for photographs was opened simulating the Damascene rose which was registered on the List of Intangible Heritage in UNESCO in 2019. The exhibition included 20 photographs that documented the practices and crafts associated with the Damascene rose, its cultivation and harvest season, and its importance as a Syrian cultural element of historical importance.
As part of the “Damascene Rose in Sanremo 2024” activities, and in honor of traditional Syrian crafts, an artistic sculpture of Syrian crafts was installed as a symbol of the Damascene Rose, made of ancient Syrian traditional crafts, namely sea shells, copper, straw making, Damascene brocade, Arabic calligraphy, and traditional glass, which was registered in 2023 on the UNESCO urgent preservation list.
The sculpture display aims to celebrate Syrian craftsmen, appreciate their ingenuity and unique craftsmanship skills, and highlight the beauty and precision of their heritage products.
Souha Suleiman