Dresden Philharmonic's Amazon tribute wins acclaim

The Dresden Philharmonic earned applause for its "Amazônia" project, a musical and photographic homage to the Amazon rainforest presented on World Environment Day. The concert, held at the Kulturpalast, was enthusiastically received by the audience.

Under the baton of Italian-Brazilian conductor Simone Menezes, the orchestra performed pieces by Heitor Villa-Lobos, including "Bachianas Brasileiras" and the symphonic oratorio "Floresta do Amazonas," alongside an excerpt from Philip Glass's "Águas da Amazonia." These musical selections were powerfully complemented by black-and-white photographs from the late Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado.

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We have destroyed the rainforest. If we destroy the balance in the rainforest, then we destroy the climatic balance on the planet.

Salgado, who passed away a year ago, had consistently warned about the destruction of the rainforest and its impact on the planet's climate balance. He advocated for reforestation as a solution to the ecological crisis. In 1998, he and his wife founded a project to restore a deforested area near their family farm in southeastern Brazil, transforming it into a biodiverse forest. Their efforts have resulted in the planting of over three million trees and the creation of seven million square meters of forest.

The "Amazônia" project, conceived by Salgado himself, merges music and photography. Menezes adapted Villa-Lobos's work into a suite for a large orchestra and soprano, featuring her compatriot Camila Provenzalle as the soloist. The project has been presented in several European cities since its premiere at the Paris Philharmonie, resonating deeply with audiences, as evidenced by the standing ovations in Dresden.

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We have destroyed the rainforest. If we destroy the balance in the rainforest, then we destroy the climatic balance on the planet.