Duo Amal hope to inspire cultural harmony

Yaron Kohlberg and Bishara Haroni are highly respected, award-winning pianists who have performed all over the world, yet neither has performed in their home countries.

As an Israeli and Palestinian working together some in their respective countries find it hard accept considering the two nations have been in conflict with one another for decades.

Kohlberg and Haroni call themselves Duo Amal — Amal being Arabic for ‘hope’. Though their shared experience they aim to show that there is hope for the people of their troubled nations. They hope to inspire harmony.

Duo Amal will be performing at City Hall next week as part of the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts.

Kohlberg told the Bermuda Sun: “We are not the Prime Ministers so I don’t know how much we will effect the situation. But through this duo it can give a nice example of contact between people from different places and backgrounds and from also what is called ‘rival countries’. Being together and getting on together we can see that the differences are not so big and we can truly be friends and even make music together.”

Haroni added: “If more and more people do try and make an effort to listen to each other and to try to understand, it will definitely help the situation. It can help slowly of course, not immediately but it is important. The music can give hope and for us communicating can help the situation for sure.”

Kohlberg, winner of the Cleveland International Competition has performed in some of the most prestigious venues in the world including the Carnegie Hall, the Kremlin Centre and the Kennedy Centre. Haroni concertizes as a soloist and chamber musician in top venues and collaborates with major orchestras, conductors and instrumentalists in Europe, US, Asia and The Middle East.

The pair first met when they were teenagers. Kohlberg was invited to perform for a peace concert in Oslo and invited Haroni to accompany him.

Kohlberg recalls: “We had a very short time to prepare for the concert but from the first moment we felt a very strong connection between us both musically and personally. So this was our first concert and it was very well received so we played some concerts in the coming years and about two years ago we decided to form the duo as our main project. We don’t know of any other collaborations between Israel and Palestine — there is one orchestral collaboration but we don’t know any composition like this.”

While the duo has never performed in Israel or Palestine, the pair are preparing to make their debut in both countries in October. They will perform at the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra and in some smaller venues in Palestine.

Asked what the reaction of the fellow countrymen has been to their unity, Haroni said: “The point of view of the average Palestinian, of course, because Israel is occupying us then it is a bit like why should you work with an Israeli — they are the bad people. Of course, I disagree with this because I believe communication is the most important thing in solving problems. One can understand where the problem is coming from and why it is happening — but only if you understand will the problem be solved. Most of the Palestinians I know say, of course, my family and friends are supportive but most of the Palestinians don’t like the idea basically.

“We are not playing everywhere  — not dangerous places or places that are not welcoming — it will not be possible we will not take a risk like that.”

Kohlberg added: “The people in Israel they are sensitive without reason without really knowing what it is all about. Therefore we both know that journalists who interview us — at the moment we decided to leave it out of our respective countries but my friends back home all support it and they love the idea. There will be interviews before the Philharmonic because it will be advertised a lot.”

Duo Amal will be playing some classical pieces by the likes of Mozart and Schubert as well as two pieces they commissioned by a Palestinian and an Israeli composer.

Duo Amal perform at City Hall on February 11 & 12 at 8pm. Tickets are $65 or $25 and are available from bdatix.bm.