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OPENING THE TERRACES ON MOUNT CARMEL

It’s dusk on 22 May 2001. Some 4,500 people, including 3,300 Bahá’ís, representing more than 200 countries and territories, are gathered at the foot of Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. They are there to witness the opening of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb, a project begun ten years ago that has transformed the barren rocky face into 19 majestic terraced gardens cascading down the length of the mountain.

The Bahá’í Faith is the most recent of the world’s major monotheistic religions and has its administrative and spiritual headquarters in Haifa, Israel. The Bahá’ís have built world-class gardens to adorn the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, the second most holy spot in their Faith. These gardens also provide thousands of visitors with a contemplative space in which ordered flowerbeds, fountains, and flowing water give way to natural perimeters of trees and shrubs. They are an oasis of tranquility in the heart of a bustling port city. Following the official opening during the week of 22 May, the gardens will be open to the public every day, free of charge.

To mark the opening of the Terraces, an oratorio and symphony have been composed by Norwegian composer Lasse Thoresen and Tajik composer Tolib Shakhidi. The Israel Northern Symphony, Haifa, under the direction of Stanley Sperber, will accompany acclaimed instrumental and vocal soloists from Canada, Austria, and the United States, backed by the Transylvania State Choir from Cluj, Romania. The original orchestral works will climax with the spectacular inaugural lighting of the Terraces, building light upon light like strings of pearls draped around the illumined Shrine.

The evening’s events will be available to television stations around the world via a satellite feed.