LEFFEST 2024 - Make Freedom Ring wins Tribute Award at Lisbon Film Festival
Make Freedom Ring, the classical musicians’ collective for Palestinian Freedom, has won the Tribute Award for an ‘outstanding moment’ at the 2024 LEFFEST Lisbon Film Festival.
Specially curated by pianist and Make Freedom Ring founding member Raúl da Costa, Concert for Palestine took place on 11 November at Lisbon’s iconic Tivoli Theatre, with all proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders (Médicos Sem Fronteiras) Portugal, specifically the Regional Fund for the Occupied Palestinian Territories and neighbouring countries.
In an Instagram post on 18 November, Make Freedom Ring commented:
‘We want to thank everyone that made this concert possible, and the incredible @leffest team for the recognition and outstanding work in remembering and reflecting on the history and current situation of Palestine. Thank you all!’
“a powerful and at times emotionally devastating example of the ability of music to bring us together, move us deeply, and remind us of our shared humanity.”
Concerto pela Palestina brought together an eclectic mix of western classical, Arabic traditional, jazz and contemporary music, alongside poetry and testimony.
Artists and guest speakers included Anouar Brahem, António Victorino d’Almeida, Mariam Said, Michael Barenboim, Ricardo Toscano, Shahd Wadi, Anja Lechner, Beatriz Felício, Jayson Gillham, Rasha Nahas, Mais Hriesh, Sindy Mohamed, and many more.
Jayson Gillham commented: ‘It was an honour to perform for Make Freedom Ring in Lisbon, at the invitation of my friend and colleague Raúl da Costa. The evening was a powerful and at times emotionally devastating example of the ability of music to bring us together, move us deeply, and remind us of our shared humanity.’
Gillham performed the Andante from Schumann’s Piano Quartet with violinist Michael Barenboim, violist Sindy Mohamed and cellist Arthur Hornig, as well as Connor D’Netto’s Witness (2024), dedicated to the journalists of Gaza.
Make Freedom Ring is a collective of musicians dedicated to producing classical music concerts that serve as a platform to amplify Palestinian voices, discuss the international humanitarian crisis, and raise funds for organisations responding to the ongoing catastrophe in Palestine. These concerts feature not only world-renowned musicians but also influential figures from various other fields.
“The world of classical music has shown tremendous solidarity in the face of past crises, and it must do so again. Silence is not enough. Through these concerts, we hope to raise urgently needed funds, show solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza, and mobilise others to do the same.”