London Philharmonic Orchestra to perform music composed by Afghan refugee

The London Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a piece this weekend by an Afghan refugee composer who fled Kabul just weeks before the Taliban takeover.

‘Journey to the Sea’ was the last piece Arson Fahim composed before leaving Afghanistan and it will be performed at the Royal Festival Hall this Saturday as part of the orchestra’s ‘A Place to Call Home’ season.

‘A Place to Call Home’ poses the question what it means to be home, particularly if you are a refugee, homeless or have experienced displacement.

Fahim said he was “honoured” to have his music performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

“Since the Taliban took over, musicians have been killed, instruments burned and I fully intend to raise my voice about this horror through the power of music.

“My music is not just about expressing myself, but also a symbol for freedom and resistance.

“Journey to the Sea was the last piece of music that I composed before leaving and I was having to deal with leaving my friends, family and country.

“The piece is about all the challenges I have faced and overcome. I am still hanging to hope.”

Fahim was born a refugee in Pakistan and he and his family moved back to Afghanistan when he was 12.

‘Journey to the Sea’ will be performed as a pre-showcase ahead of the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of  Michael Tippett’s A Child of Our Time.

Tippett was provoked to write this piece after witnessing decades of intolerance leading up to the war.

He shared in the public horror of Kristallnacht of November 9 1938 and decided he must respond with a composition which became A Child of Our Time.

Journey to the Sea will be performed at the Royal Festival Hall at 6pm on Saturday November 26.

The event is free and unticketed.

The main concert ‘A Child of out Time’ starts at 7.30pm and tickets start at £14.