Sixty Jewish and Arab musicians collaborated on a heartwarming rendition of the song from the musical West Side Story, "Somewhere," written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim in 1957. The song in three languages, Arabic, Hebrew and English, wished to convey a message of peace and hope despite the current war.
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The song was performed on Wednesday by the Israeli Opera, the Galilee Chamber Orchestra, the Jerusalem Academy of Music, and the School of Music at Tel Aviv University.
"This special performance is another layer in a vast array of activities in which the opera promotes and maintains meetings and an artistic and educational dialogue between Jewish and Arab musicians and audiences," said Zach Granit, general director of the Israeli Opera. "At this time, it is important for us to sound a voice of hope and faith in a better future for life together and joint creation."
David Sebba arranged the song and translated its lyrics into three languages together with Rina Miaari, while 30 Arab and Jewish singers and 30 Jewish and Arab orchestra players were entrusted with its performance.