Author: Cicely Herbert

Cicely Herbert reports on musical peace initiatives in London, including concerts bringing Israelis and Palestinians together and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, taking Edward Said’s phrase that counterpoint is a way to unity.

Cicely Herbert describes visiting Mostar as its rebuilt Stari Most bridge reopened, using the bridge as a metaphor for reconciliation across faiths and nations, and recounts a family wedding in Bosnia.

Cicely Herbert reviews Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven as noisy spectacle, but notes its link between the Crusades and the Iraq war, and turns to Asbridge and Maalouf on the Crusades.

Cicely Herbert reviews the Royal Opera House Die Walkure, praising the cast and Pappano’s conducting, and notes the Feuerbachian reading of Wagner’s Ring as humans creating the gods.

Cicely Herbert discusses Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s play Behzti, cancelled at Birmingham Rep after violent Sikh protests. She outlines Sikh beliefs, defends the play’s exposure of abuse of trust, and opposes censorship.

Cicely Herbert reviews The Motorcycle Diaries, the film of Che Guevara’s youthful journey across Latin America, which exposed him to poverty and injustice; includes his daughter’s comments on the film.

Cicely Herbert reviews Michael Moore’s documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, finding it powerful on Bush administration self-interest and the poor recruited to fight the Iraq war, while uneasy at some of Moore’s stunts.