Did you know that the only symÂphoÂny orchesÂtra in CenÂtral Africa is locatÂed in KinÂshasa, the capÂiÂtal of the ConÂgo — a war-torn counÂtry plagued by poverÂty and despair? This short film (tranÂscript here) tells the amazÂing stoÂry of the SymÂphonÂic OrchesÂtra KimÂbanÂguiste (page in French), revealÂing the difÂfiÂcult cirÂcumÂstances under which the 200 musiÂcians labor: they come from all over the city; most travÂel on foot to get to rehearsals six days a week; and the bulk of the instruÂments have been donatÂed, salÂvaged and repaired or purÂchased from secÂond-hand shops. Despite all of these difÂfiÂculÂties, the orchesÂtra manÂages to make the most beauÂtiÂful music: lisÂten to Johann Strauss’s The Blue Danube Waltz (An der schöÂnen blauen Donau).
This is not the first docÂuÂmenÂtary about this outÂstandÂing orchesÂtra. In 2010, a team of GerÂman filmÂmakÂers released a 95-minute film called KinÂshasa SymÂphoÂny (trailÂer). Also, Le Figaro has an arrestÂing phoÂto essay about the musiÂcians.
By proÂfesÂsion, Matthias RaschÂer teachÂes EngÂlish and HisÂtoÂry at a High School in northÂern Bavaria, GerÂmany. In his free time he scours the web for good links and posts the best finds on TwitÂter.
This is the first time that 60 MinÂutes has made me cry.
Any way to conÂtribute? The “appuyÂer l’OSK” butÂton on the webÂsite doesÂn’t work.