bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Agence France-Presse

To applause, percussionist Bahjat Antaki took to the stage with Syria’s national symphony orchestra for the first classical concert at the Damascus Opera House since President Bashar al-Assad’s ousting.
The concert was a way of saying “we are here and able to produce art” despite years of devastating civil war, Antaki said after the performance, which drew an audience of hundreds.
“We will continue, and we will be stronger and more beautiful,” the 24-year-old said.
After Islamist-led rebels ousted Assad on December 8, the orchestra’s rehearsals and concerts were halted as Syria embarked on a delicate transition away from decades of one-family rule enforced by a repressive security apparatus.

While the country has breathed a sigh of relief, many in the capital – known for being more liberal than other parts of the country – have expressed apprehension about the direction the new Islamist leaders may take on personal freedoms and potentially the arts.
The new authorities have said repeatedly they will protect Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities, and that the country’s transition will be inclusive.
“There aren’t fears, but worries,” said violinist Rama al-Barsha, 33, before going onstage. “We hope for more support – under the old regime, we had no financial aid or even symbolic support.”
The concert was conducted by Missak Baghboudarian, a member of Syria’s Armenian minority, and included works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Syrian composers.
In the audience were European and Gulf Arab diplomats as well as new acting health minister Maher al-Sharaa and his family.

Sharaa is the brother of interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, who until recently led the Islamist group that spearheaded the offensive against Assad.
The group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has its roots in Syria’s former al-Qaeda affiliate but cut ties in 2016.
In January, the opera house also hosted its first concert by the well-known Islamic music singer known as Abu Ratib, who returned after decades in exile for his political views and whose recordings until recently were sold in secret.
The orchestral performance paid homage “to the martyrs and the glory of Syria”.
A minute’s silence was held for the more than 500,000 people killed during the civil war that erupted after Assad brutally repressed anti-government protests in 2011.
What we see here today is the Syria that I love … the music, the people who have come to listen – that’s the best image of Damascus
Yamama al-Haw, concert-goer
Images of the destruction wreaked by more than 13 years of fighting were projected on the back wall of the stage, along with pictures of mass demonstrations.
Also shown were photographs of Alan Kurdi, the toddler who became a tragic symbol of the Syrian refugee crisis when his tiny body was washed up on a Turkish beach in 2015 after his family’s failed attempt to reach EU member Greece by small boat.
In a reminder of the heavy economic cost of the war, the venue was unheated for the concert despite the winter cold.
Organisers said they could not afford the fuel, and both musicians and technical staff performed for free.
Audience member Omar Harb, 26, acknowledged concerns about the future of the arts in Syria’s Islamist-led political transition but said after the performance that “it seems that nothing will change”.
“We hope that these events will continue – I want to come back again,” said the young doctor, after watching his first concert at the opera house.

Yamama al-Haw, 42, said the venue was “a very dear place”.
“What we see here today is the Syria that I love … the music, the people who have come to listen – that’s the best image of Damascus,” she said, beaming and wearing a white hijab.
She expressed optimism that the country was headed towards “better days”.
“Everything suggests that what will come will be better for the people … we will have the Syria we want.”


How Belgian musician Bolis Pupul reconnected with his mother’s Hong Kong home

Hong Kong singer-songwriter Khalil Fong dies at 41 after long battle with illness

How do Syria’s Islamists view culture? Unlike Taliban, they see art as ‘part of humanity’

This week in PostMag: Hong Kong’s art month, Ningxia’s wineries and more

Music

Will classical music still have a place in Syria? First concert since Assad’s ousting held

Members of the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra perform during a concert at the Damascus Opera House in Syria on January 30, 2025. The concert included works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Syrian composers. Photo: Khalil Ashawi

The concert was conducted by Missak Baghboudarian, a member of Syria’s Armenian minority. Photo: Reuters

The orchestral performance paid homage “to the martyrs and the glory of Syria”. Photo: AFP

The Syrian National Symphony Orchestra performs for the first time since the fall of the regime. Photo: AFP

2025 Beare’s Premiere Music Festival in Hong Kong ends on a high note

The Verona Quartet performing opera composer Giuseppe Verdi’s only instrumental work in January 22, 2025 concert “La Belle Époque”, the finale of the 2025 Beare’s Premiere Music Festival, at Hong Kong City Hall. Photo: Kenny Cheung/Premiere Performances of Hong Kong

Violinists (from left) Alexander Sitkovetsky, So-Ock Kim, Jonathan Ong and Dorothy Ro and (centre) double bass player George Lomdaridze receive applause during the January 22, 2025 concert “La Belle Époque”, the finale of the 2025 Beare’s Premiere Music Festival, at Hong Kong City Hall. Photo: Kenny Cheung/Premiere Performances of Hong Kong

The Verona Quarter (from left) Jonathan Ong, Dorothy Ro, Jonathan Dormand and Abigail Rojansky play opera composer Giuseppe Verdi’s lone string quartet, the opening work in concert “La Belle Époque”, the finale of the 2025 Beare’s Premiere Music Festival, at Hong Kong City Hall. Photo: Kenny Cheung/Premiere Performances of Hong Kong

Musicians (from left) So-Ock Kim, Wu Qian, Adrien La Marca and Isang Enders perform Fauré’s Piano Quartet No. 1 during the finale of the 2025 Beare’s Premiere Music Festival at Hong Kong City Hall. Photo: Kenny Cheung/Premiere Performances of Hong Kong

Bassist George Lomdaridze (centre) is flanked by violinists (from left) Alexander Sitkovetsky, So-Ock Kim, Dorothy Ro and Jonathan Ong in the finale of the 2025 Beare’s Premiere Music Festival at Hong Kong City Hall. Photo: Kenny Cheung/Premiere Performances of Hong Kong

Seoul Philharmonic, Jaap van Zweden’s new orchestra, aspires to reach Berlin Phil’s level

Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra music director Jaap van Zweden conducts the Korean orchestra, which its new chief executive says aspires to reach a world-class level in the next 10 years. Photo: Instagram/immoyangviolin_fan 

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra receives applause after a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 in 2023. Photo: Instagram/jusunggabrielpark

Elim Chan on cancel culture, what she wants to do next and what she thinks of Hong Kong

Elim Chan conducts the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: Keith Hiro/HK Phil

Conductor Elim Chan in Hong Kong, her home city, where she conducted the HK Phil four times in November 2024. In an interview, she talks about cancel culture, next steps and why Hong Kong is “a special place”. Photo: Antony Dickson

Elim Chan conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in July 2024. Photo: Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Conductor Elim Chan on the podium during the first night of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s “Swire Maestro Series: Elim Chan & James Ehnes” concerts on November 22, 2024 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Photo: Keith Hiro/HK Phil

Elim Chan conducted without a baton in the first of her concerts with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, but used a baton for the second one. Photo: Keith Hiro/HK Phil

James Ehnes (left) is the soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the Hong Kong Philharmonic conducted by Elim Chan (right) on November 22, 2024. Photo: Keith Hiro/HK Phil

Elim Chan conducts the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Of her future, she says “certain orchestras are looking, both in Europe and the States”. Photo: Keith Hiro/HK Phil

Year of the Snake 2025 predictions for 12 zodiac signs. How is your health, luck, wealth?

Feng shui master Tong Pik-ha predicts the varying fortunes of people born under the 12 Chinese zodiac signs in the coming Year of the Snake. Illustrations: Victor Sanjinez

Lifestyle

Arts

Culture

Syria’s national symphony orchestra performed for free in an unheated hall, reflections of the dire economic toll of the country’s civil war


Syria’s national symphony orchestra performed for free in an unheated hall, reflections of the dire economic toll of the country’s civil war.


Classical music

Syria