Prague is a place where xenophobia and stereotypical condemnation of others are not tolerated. That's the main subtitle of the special concert Symphony for Humanity, which will take place on May 2nd on Střelecký Island, featuring performances by artists like Ben Cristovao and Sofian Medjmedj. Alongside the celebration of the Czech Republic's entry into the European Union, this concert will be part of the traditional multi-genre music festival United Islands of Prague, taking place in the city center from May 1st to May 4th, 2024.
"The Symphony for Humanity concert expresses our concern. We support the idea of living with respect for one another, embracing diversity, and respecting the variety of our opinions, origins, or reasons for being on the European continent. We want to get along and live in a diverse community," says David Gaydečka, one of the creators of the concert's concept.
During Thursday, May 2nd, several stages will host performances by artists such as the Slovak group Gypsy Devils, representing our eastern neighbors worldwide. The group combines classical works by Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, and Dvořák with music genres such as jazz, ethno, flamenco, or gypsy music. Also returning to the stage after years is the All Stars Refjúdží Band, mixing music of different styles and cultural sources. For inspiration, they don't have to look far, as the band is multicultural. The singer is from China, the vocalist and player of the Arabic lute are Kurdish, the second singer and musician are from Switzerland, and the accordionist is from Armenia. Audiences can also look forward to performances by the Nikki Madi Trio and Dennyiah. The highlight is expected to be a joint concert at the tip of Střelecký Island, featuring guests like Ben Cristovao and Sofian Medjmedj.
The special concert is organized by the United Islands of Prague festival team and newly minted Czech citizen Serge Borenstein, who moved to Prague after 1989 and started a real estate business here.
"Reports from conflict areas, eyewitness testimonies, and refugee stories bring a huge amount of information into our society every day. History repeats itself, and information, as well as misinformation, divide our society. With the Symphony for Humanity concert, we want to show that we care about what's happening in the world," adds Serge Borenstein, a big music fan and a long-time supporter of the United Islands of Prague festival.
The Symphony for Humanity concert is part of the four-day United Islands of Prague festival. From May 1st to May 4th, over 100 performers from across Europe will present themselves at beautiful locations, some of them quite unexpected. In short, it can be said that the Prague islands will belong not only to the reminder of peace, safety, and cooperation on the European continent but also to a genre-rich load of unheard musical tones from all the countries of the European Union.