To applause, percussionist Bahjat Antaki took the stage with Syria's national symphony orchestra, marking the first classical concert at the Damascus opera house since president Bashar al-Assad’s ouster.

The concert was a way of saying "we are here and able to produce art," despite more than years of devastating war, Antaki told AFP after last week's performance, which drew an audience of hundreds.

"We will continue, and we will be stronger and more beautiful," the 24-year-old said.

After Islamist-led rebels ousted Assad on December 8, the orchestra's rehearsals and concerts were halted as Syria embarked on a delicate transition away from decades of one-family rule enforced by a repressive security apparatus.

While the country has breathed a sigh of relief, many in the capital -- known for being more liberal than other parts of the country -- have expressed apprehension about the direction the new Islamist leaders may take on personal freedoms and........

© Al Monitor