A Boston conductor in Lebanon

Charles Ansbacher had it good in the 1990s and lived in Vienna but one day got an invitation to conduct in Tajikistan and he got hooked. He felt the concert was considered as very important in the country, and it began his connections with the US State Dept. He’s now conducted in Minsk, Belarus, the former Yugoslavia. He says it’s been an activity of his to perform in emerging democracies or otherwise unusual places. CA says it’s important for America to project it has values which coincide with the values of other countries that he performs in, or can bring about a democratic spirit. CA says he thinks this is particular important for countries with which we don’t have good relations or where the US is thought of poorly.