What is the importance of the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO) for Lebanon?
The Orchestra is the “central Ministry of Foreign Affairs” in Lebanon (he laughs). This is the way it is becoming. To be honest with you, we receive guest conductors and guest musicians and performers every year and we are a very well-known Orchestra. Before the establishment of the LNSO, Lebanon was not mentioned anywhere in the world, even in the Middle East. Now, Lebanon is in the cultural agenda of all the countries in the world. In our conservatory, we have the best Symphony Orchestra in the area. We are as good as any European Symphony Orchestra. How is your Orchestra divided? We are one united big Symphony Orchestra, but out of this Orchestra we make Chamber music performances. Our Orchestra is composed of 101 musicians: sometimes we perform with 45 instrumentalists; sometimes with 10…it depends. Does the same Orchestra perform in the Oriental concerts you give at St. Joseph church in Monot? Of course not! The Oriental Orchestra is a totally different orchestra. The Oriental Ara
