Phoenix in Exile 

Jandali in exile remained a proud Syrian and his unique personal voice is heard with even greater clarity and definition in this work, speaking in a tone steeped in the ardor of his will and the aspiring idealism of his echoes. 

As the oboe introduces the main melody, we hear the piercing cry of the Phoenix’s lament.  In his search for freedom, he is exiled from his beloved homeland to seek a peaceful refuge.  The strings interrupt the bird’s cry, depicting howling winds and clouds scudding across the sky. 

As the Phoenix flies up and away, a cloud of birds of all shapes and sizes rises up from the earth and flies behind him, singing together. The solo violin finale is the cry of the Phoenix as he continues on his journey alone to fulfill his destiny and rise again from the ashes.  

The Syrian people, like the Phoenix, will rise from the ruins and rebuild their homeland in a manner even more magnificent than it used to be. Through history, the Phoenix could not live its full lifespan, yet it never failed to rise from its ashes to chant the story of a living nation.

Phoenix in Exile was recorded on May 21, 2014 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London.