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Conflict in Syria

Russian musicians perform at Damascus Opera Theatre

Music For Peace is an international charitable project called to unite people of different political and religious views

BEIRUT, December 10. /TASS/. A concert of young Russian musicians was held at Damascus’ Opera Theatre on Sunday night, Vadim Zaichikov, head of Lebanese office of Russian Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Cultural Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo), told TASS over the phone.

He said the concert was part of the international project Music For Peace and was met with great enthusiasm by Syrian public.

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"It was the first concert by Russian musicians in Damascus in the past six years. It became possible that’s to the normalization of the situation in the country," Zaichikov said, adding that Russian performers were Maria Nemtsova (piano), Vitaly Vatulya (saxophone) and Yevgeny Rumyantsev (cello) played music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Max Bruch, Gaspar Cassado and Francois Borne.

According to Zaichikov, Music For Peace is an international charitable project called to unite people of different political and religious views, to "attune them to creativity and partnership." Participants in the project give free concerts and organize master classes in various corners of the world that have been hit by wars, terrorism or natural calamities.

"Russian musicians performed in Damascus last time in 2011. We are glad that now the situation has made it possible to resume humanitarian cooperation with Syria after such a break," Zaichikov noted.

On Monday, the three Russian musicians will give master classes for their Syrian colleagues at Damascus’ Conservatory.

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Syrian conflict

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