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Halelu chorus video avaliable | July 21, 2007

The Halelu Chorus is the collaborative work of Composer/Conductor David Eaton, and Singers David D'Or, and Ms. Seiko Lee. (Click read more to learn more)

Halelu World Premiere---A "Flower" of The Middle East Peace Initiative

On the foundation of the important work of the Middle East Peace Initiative and the historic MEPI concert on September 13, 2004 at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem, Israeli vocalist, David D'Or, and American conductor/composer, David Eaton set upon the task of co-creating the Peace Cantata, Halelu. David D'Or was deeply inspired by the ideals of Ambassadors for Peace and as an artist who is dedicated to the concept of "music-for-peace," his wish was to contribute to MEPI in the way he thought best---through his music.

Composed in 2005, Halelu, a 40 minute, 10 movement composition for solo voices, chorus and orchestra, was recorded in Tel Aviv in April of 2006 with the Ra'anana Symphony Orchestra and members of the Philharmonia Chorus of Israel, Israel's most professional concert choir. The motto of MEPI, "Peace, Shalom, Salaam Aliekum," figures prominently in the lyric and the music is sung in Hebrew, English, Arabic, Latin and Korean. Mr. Eaton did the orchestrations and arrangements and also conducted the sessions. Mr. D'Or and soprano Seiko Lee were the solo vocalists in the recording.

Upon hearing the music for the first time at the recording sessions, David D'Or confided that he cried deeply as he was greatly moved by what had been accomplished. It was, in his words, "the realization of a dream."

World Premiere

Upon finishing the CD, the artists sent the music to various producers and contacts with the hope of finding an occasion for a world premiere performance. In November of 2006 an invitation was received to present the premiere by the Israeli Ambassador to Israel in Serbia, H.E. Yaffa Ben-Ari. The Ambassador had been a long-time admirer of David D'Or and had invited David to Belgrade to perform as part of the annual Israel Independence Day celebration in Serbia. David convinced Ambassador Ben-Ari to organize a performance of Halelu with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra and the 120-voice choir of the Academic Cultural Artistic Society. David and Seiko were the solo vocalists once again.

The concert was financed by member businesses of the Israeli-Serbian Business Fund and was presented at the Sava Convention and Media Center in Belgrade to an audience of 2,500 guests, including Princess Jelisaveta of the Yugoslav Royal Family as well as 40 Ambassadors to Serbia. The performance was taped and broadcast to several other countries in the region and also via satellite to the so-called "Diaspora" regions.

Press Conference and VIP Receptions

Upon arriving in Belgrade a press conference was held at the Sava Center with Ambassador Ben-Ari, David D'Or, Seiko Lee and David Eaton. About 20 journalists and photographers were in attendance.

This program was presented to celebrate the 59th Anniversary of Israel Independence. At the heart of this project is the artist's hope to use this unique cultural project to promote interreligious understanding and reconciliation, as well as to encourage other artists to use their creative abilities for altruistic purposes.


Posted by admin at July 21, 2007 09:53 AM


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