Sharjah: More than 70 artists representing the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg have completed recordings of the momentous operetta, The Clusters of Light, to be held in Sharjah.
Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Qasimi, chairman of the Sharjah Media Centre and chairman of the Executive Committee for the Sharjah Capital of Islamic Culture 2014 Celebrations; Mohammad Khalaf, head of Sharjah radio and TV; and Osama Samra, Sharjah Media Centre Director, attended the recording in Germany.
Led by German composer Christian Steinhauser, the distinguished Berlin Orchestra maestro, the epic’s inaugural performance will take place on March 26 in Sharjah’s 4,500-seat Open Majaz Island Theatre.
Steinhauser is one of Europe’s most highly acclaimed musical talents. His unique fusion of the classical orchestral sound combined with high-end technology features makes him a luminary in Berlin’s art scene as well as on the global stage. Among his most famous musical works are compositions that were played during the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
This monumental composition is about the life of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), with international authors, musicians and artists participating in the production. The oratorio will travel to a number of cities around the world following its Sharjah performance.
Shaikh Sultan said : “We selected a group of musicians that would do justice to this momentous and unique oratorio, reflecting the depth of its message and exceptional production values. The extraordinary talent, global renown and past performances of the orchestra speak for themselves. As such, we are confident our message will be conveyed with passion as well as exceptional technical skill.”
Steinhauser is one of the most renowned contributors to The Clusters of Light joining international artists including Julie Brooks, the global producer, and Kevin Robins, the global director. Among the participants in this landmark work are creative minds from across the Middle East, including the Emirati artist Hussain Al Jasmi, the Tunisian singer Lutfi Bushnaq, the young Palestinian artist Mohammad Assaf, and Egyptian artist Ali Hajjar.
“When I was asked to contribute to this epical work about the story of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), I was inspired by the story, history and religion to create spiritual and compassionate music that harmonises with the narrative. Music is known as a global language of expression that surpasses the limitations of other languages,” Steinhauser said.
He pointed out that music is part of human consciousness; a language not only spoken but also tuned. “My contribution to this epical work came from my understanding of music and its role that transcends borders and cultures.”
Steinhauser is musical director of the Berlin-based artist’s network ‘phase7’. He recently composed a musical sonata titled Delusions with Virtual Acoustic Environments. In August 2013, he celebrated the first display of his second opera Mechanism of the Heavens, which he has been entrusted to compose by Deutsche Opera Berlin.
