World Orchestra for Peace - The Concerts

The seed of Solti's ambitious idea for the orchestra was sown at a concert in 1992, given at Buckingham Palace to celebrate his 80th birthday. Musicians from all over the world flew in to honour him; among them, 13 musicians from 13 of the greatest orchestras in the world performed Wagner's Siegfried Idyll without a conductor. As Solti thanked them all, he said: 'I could not escape one very essential idea. Isn't it amazing that we musicians can produce a united Europe or more even a united world. Why can't the politicians?'

In accordance with this, the orchestra assembles for particular occasions which reflect either its special mission to promote peace and international co-operation or to celebrate peace and reconstruction following war or violence.