
The Levant, the area of the Middle East along the eastern Mediterranean, comprises a unique and rich mix of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. In 2018, the Levant Initiative commissioned the Levantine Symphony N°1 to celebrate the vibrant Levant identity through music. The original composition was written by Ibrahim Maalouf, a native of Lebanon who is trained in both western classical music and traditional Arab music.
Performed by the Free Spirit Symphony Orchestra, the performance featured the National Children’s Chorus of the United States. To highlight the unique musical identity of Levantine culture, as well as to encourage a unified future in the region, the symphony incorporated diverse musical elements.