This Sunday, September 3rd, the “Semana Internacional de Piano” (International Piano Week) arrives in Rio for a second edition. Taking place at the Cecília Meireles room, in Lapa, and Cidade das Artes, in Barra, the festival brings to the stage prestigious pianists from France, Russia, Croatia, Italy and Brazil until next Saturday, September 9th.

In his eight years leading the New York Philharmonic, Alan Gilbert has witnessed the power of music to connect cultures - and watched as political strife consumed much of the world. Closing his tenure in one of classical music's most prestigious positions, he is planning a next chapter by creating a sort of United Nations of orchestras. [...] The musicians will "play concerts that express hope for peace and cooperation and shared humanity", he said.

Saudi Arabia's religious leaders have labelled some areas of Western culture as harmful and corrupting. They've banned movie theaters and rarely permit public concerts. But this is slowly changing -- and one Japanese orchestra is taking center stage. Over 80 musicians and a conductor arrived in Riyadh in April to give the first classical concert Saudi Arabia has allowed in decades.

Minister of Culture and Information Adel Al-Toraifi opened the first Japanese full orchestra concert in Saudi Arabia on Thursday night here at King Fahad Cultural Center. The concert was organized as part of a Saudi-Japan music exchange program, under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information and the Embassy of Japan.

The New York Philharmonic plays a leading cultural role in New York City, the United States, and the world. This season's projects will connect the Philharmonic with up to 50 million music lovers through live concerts in New York City and on its worldwide tours and residencies; digital recording series; international broadcasts on television, radio, and online; and as a resource through its wide range of education programs...

The Thai Philharmonic Orchestra, based in Bangkok, will stage concerts in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw from August 26 to 29. [...] The programme is hosted by the Royal Thai Embassy, the Embassy of Germany in Myanmar and the Goethe-Institute Myanmar as a cultural exchange and friendship mission.

To expand cultural exchange with other countries, the festival has started designating a guest of honor nation since 2013. South Korea has become the fourth such nation, following Russia in 2013, the U.S. in 2014, and China in 2015.