An extraordinary performance commemorating World War I takes place at Baycourt next week and it unites musicians from throughout the world whose forefathers were once on different sides of war.
At the heart of the performance is John Psathas' composition A Love Letter to Peace which reinforces unity through the brotherhood of musicianship.
"The idea is that when we commemorate, what seems to happen is that it marks the military story and what happens is that it reinforces the idea of 'them' and 'us'. We are trying to get to the idea of a big Us," says Psathas.
Even at the worst times, there are acts of kindness, he says. "We see so-called enemies offering each other water, a cigarette, a shoulder to lean on.
"I believe we are at a cross-roads now between conflict and resolution and right now the world is very much in conflict. This whole project is about the suggestion of an alternative," he says. His concept sees Turkish musicians performing alongside Kiwis, Americans and Indians collaborating with Russians, French, German and Japanese. And the backdrop to their music is landscapes from throughout the world projected and integrated into the live show.
