The National Youth Orchestra of Iraq may not have the best instruments, but when they're practising Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major their enthusiasm is contagious. The young musicians are also rehearsing works by an Arab and a Kurdish composer, which were specially commissioned by Deutsche Welle.
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Shiites, Sunnis, Christians, Arabs, Kurds and Turkmens are all looking forward to performing together abroad for the first time. On October 1 the youth orchestra will take to the stage at the Beethoven Festival in Bonn. ARTS.21 pays a visit to Iraq to watch the musicians rehearse.