The National Higher Institute of Music – Conservatory, at the invitation of its president Hiba Kawas, organized a musical concert on the seaside Corniche of Beirut titled "Lighthouse Lights, Sundown Symphony." Members of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra participated under the direction of the Russian musician Olyana Kislytsina, in a significant initiative aimed at engaging all citizens in symphonic concerts and reaching a wider audience, in line with the cultural strategy pursued by the Conservatory. This concert was the last in the series of concluding performances for the Philharmonic Orchestra's season, which will resume its musical activities next September.
A large crowd of passersby on the seaside Corniche were drawn to the music emanating from the strings of the orchestra's musicians and their wind and percussion instruments, who were seated in their designated chairs, creating a unique orchestral scene at sunset as the twilight scattered sunlight in a rare musical natural tableau. This inspiring moment occurred while the Lebanese were anxiously anticipating war and fearing its escalation, highlighting the importance of culture and music in providing doses of hope, positivity, and joy.
In her speech, President Hiba Kawas conveyed many positive messages, specifically announcing that the Conservatory would be present in all regions of Lebanon to spread music: "We are here today in this beautiful spot in Lebanon, on the seaside Corniche, to say that music is the daughter of all places and times; it is not limited by location or geography. We are here today to say that Lebanon is very beautiful, and we reflect this beauty through music and culture. It is essential for us to gather in places that remind us of our reality, like this Mediterranean sea and its blue, and this Corniche that holds deep memories. This concert is not only to interact with everyone passing by the Corniche who haven't had the chance to attend our performances in dedicated halls, but also to declare that we are the ones coming to you wherever you are. We will visit all of Lebanon with our music, its forests, nature, villages, and cities. We are ready to come to you wherever you are if you cannot come to us."
Another beautiful parallel scene accompanied the musical performance while the orchestra played some enchanting pieces—a scene of flower sellers, children from the Corniche, who gathered out of curiosity and to sell flowers they had been carrying since morning. In a touching moment, these children became part of the invited audience by sitting on the ground near the chairs designated for official invites and the Conservatory's audience. With noteworthy and expressive attentiveness, they accompanied the musicians with their ears and eyes, harmonizing from the very first piece, La Forza Del Destino Overture by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, to the concluding piece by Tchaikovsky, along with other world-renowned compositions by Bizet, Prokofiev, Brahms, Vivaldi, Bach, Albinoni, Massenet, and Shostakovich, skillfully conducted by the brilliant musician Olyana on her violin, dancing with one of the most significant classical masterpieces.
With great skill, the musician executed rapid bow movements on the violin with a flowing grace, highlighting the musical beauties and presenting them in a complete and continuous creativity free from affectation, transporting the audience along with the talented musicians, who were united in musical harmony and synchronization, to a musical ecstasy expressed by the audience through applause and admiration.
