The Messenger, Georgia
May 30 2006

Music is the universal language, especially in the Caucasus
Caucasus Chamber Orchestra to play in Sokhumi, Beslan, along with
Yerevan and Baku
By Tiko Giorgadze

“Mshvidobita Shenita” (“With Peace”), a classical music festival,
will open in early June with the patronage of the First Lady of
Georgia, Sandra Roelofs and the support of the U.S., Italian, and
German Embassies.

At a May 25 press conference, director of the Caucasus Chamber
Orchestra, Uwe Berkemer, announced that the orchestra, which is
comprised of Georgian, Russian and Armenian musicians, will perform
June 3-8 in the main hall of the Tbilisi Conservatory.

“Music is a universal language. Everybody in the world understands
that people can communicate through music,” Berkemer told The
Messenger.

He also noted that their main goal is: “to make good music and
promote Caucasian music throughout the Caucasus. Another important
aim is to transport the message of peace all over the world, because
I think if people see how Caucasus people can work together without
fighting, then the orchestra can be regarded as a symbol of stability
in the Caucasus.”

Uwe Berkemer created the new chamber orchestra last year, and its
first festival was held in Batumi in 2005. Now the Caucasus Chamber
Orchestra is planning festivals in Tbilisi, Sokhumi, Azerbaijan, and
Armenia and other Caucasus regions.

“I think it’s definitely a good and interesting idea since music is
really a global language – nobody can argue with that. The fact that
the music of the Caucasus is being used as a sort of initial symbol
of peace – like a dove – is also really important,” explained
Minister of Culture, Goka Gabashvili.

He expressed his gratitude towards the First Lady of Georgia, the
embassies that are supporting the festival and the director of the
orchestra Uwe Berkemer, who he said “is not originally from the
Caucasus but can see the importance of Caucasus music for
establishing peace in the region,” Gabashvili said.

The First Lady believes it is truly a great initiative that will help
the Caucasus people establish peace and friendly relations with each
other.

“The orchestra is going to visit Beslan and Sokhumi where the people
are expecting them with great interest because concerts and the
cultural life are not as developed in there like in Tbilisi.” Sandra
Roelofs told the journalists.

“Our desire is to present this music to all the Caucasus and assure
people that in this way we are able to achieve cooperation, tolerance
and friendship,” the First Lady added.