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You can't say no to peace By Noam Ben Zeev Musicians from 70 leading orchestras and 40 countries, including some Israelis from local orchestras and even one Palestinian, will gather here to perform for a symbolic fee, under the heading "A message of peace to Israel and the Middle East." By playing "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by Berliner Felix Mendelssohn and works by Viennese composer Gustav Mahler and contemporary British composer Roxanna Panufnik, they will reflect the "unique strength of music as an ambassador of peace," according to the man who founded the orchestra in 1993, legendary conductor Georg Solti. What is there about classical music that causes it to serve repeatedly as a symbol of peace and brotherhood? According to the cliche, since music is an abstract art and lacks all elements of representation such as visuals or ideas (and in the opinion of composer Igor Stravinsky even emotions), it is capable of bridging cultural differences. In front of a sheet of music everyone is equal, ostensibly, and the proof is the spread of classical music beyond Western Europe where it was conceived, to Venezuela and Japan, South America and South Korea. Advertisement Although Western music contains profound differences within itself; for example, between the Italian and French styles - and there have been aesthetic debates about that for centuries - do-gooders from all over the world really believe that brotherhood is reflected in a concert that can serve as an example for leaders and give them new insight. According to the hope expressed by Solti when he founded the orchestra, by request of the United Nations secretary general at the time, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the group would be a UN of musicians: If people can play together, they can live together in peace. But what may have excited many people 15 years ago when the orchestra was established has soured over the years and now arouses suspicion; sometimes it is even infuriating. The naive use of music has led it to be exploited as a political tool, and the first to notice this were the Palestinians. They discovered that the coexistence concerts between them and Israeli musicians - the initiative for which always came from the Israelis - are an exploitation of the opportunity for generous funding, nothing more. There is a large budget for the outward appearance of peace. The European Union, international foundations, humanitarian institutions and festivals all open their wallets generously, because you can't say no to peace. The world likes to see Israelis playing on an equal basis with Palestinians on the same stage, even if elsewhere Israelis look at Palestinians through the sights of crowd-control equipment or check their ID cards at checkpoints. A current example is that same Austrian orchestra, the Spirit of Europe, that was supposed to play a concert of peace and good will in Nazareth in July. Only by chance did the city elders discover that the concert was being funded by the Israeli 60th anniversary budget, and the mayor canceled it. Just as a Palestinian musician canceled a concert with an Israeli ensemble a few years ago when he discovered that the funding came from the Jerusalem 3000 project. The World Orchestra for Peace, since it is an ad hoc group that convenes only for concerts, also needs donors. In the past the bank Credit Suisse paid for one of their entire tours in Western Europe, Russia and China, and before the trip to Jerusalem they found another generous sponsor: Arcadi Gaydamak, a friend of conductor Gergiev, according to orchestra director Charles Kaye. Kaye went on to describe the positive atmosphere among the musicians, who come out of a sense of mission, in effect on a volunteer basis, and include leading players from the most important orchestras in the world. Despite all that, they are without ego and are willing to accept any task. But they are temporary guests. The hundreds of thousands of dollars invested by Gaydamak in securing them will apparently fade out with the last chord of the concert. Politicians will of course be invited, along with other dignitaries, who will come in order to rub shoulders with the world's leading musicians. They will probably be impressed by the virtuoso conductor, listen to several speeches and enjoy Mahler's Fifth, but the concert will not provide them with inspiration for solving the conflict. It will be remembered only as another monument to the overused word "peace," which has been emptied of all its meaning, and which is being exploited both by do-gooders and warmongers. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A man of peace Vatican defends wartime pope Pius XII against charge he turned blind eye to Holocaust. Feminine features An Iranian motor company unveils plans to design cars specifically tailored to women.

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