Why divan orchestra

Would any orchestral members boycott the tour? Would it all go ahead as planned? When the chips were down, how truly committed were this group of young musicians from opposite sides of the divide to engaging with each other? Attached to the email was an editorial Barenboim had written about the war in Gaza, which also laid out his three wishes for the New Year. In the end, not a single Arab or Israeli member of the Divan boycotted that tour: from Israel, from the Palestinian territories, from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, they came together for a tough, but triumphant, two weeks.

And it was a fortnight that changed my life. It is a singular space in which human beings who are otherwise forcibly kept apart can come together to exchange ideas and views, learn about each other and, above all, listen to each other in a world that would otherwise keep them silent.

In , Daniel Barenboim and the late Palestinian literary scholar Edward Said created a workshop for young musicians from Israel, Palestine and several Arab countries to promote coexistence and intercultural dialogue.

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra has proved time and again that music can break down barriers previously considered insurmountable. The only political aspect that prevails in the work of the Divan is the conviction that there is no military solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, and that the destinies of Israelis and Palestinians are inextricably linked.

The cross-cultural contacts made by the musicians during the orchestral workshops, symbolize how political and cultural differences could be overcome between the countries represented in the orchestra.

Unfortunately, music alone will not solve the highly complex conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. However, in the Barenboim-Said Foundation we strongly believe that music is a powerful tool for breaking down barriers previously considered insurmountable. This project thus demonstrates that an understanding between countries which have historically been enemies is possible. Visit the new DW website Take a look at the beta version of dw.

Go to the new dw. More info OK. Wrong language? Change it here DW. COM has chosen English as your language setting. COM in 30 languages. Deutsche Welle. Audiotrainer Deutschtrainer Die Bienenretter. Barenboim's project brings people together with music. Together at the podium The musicians have been anxiously following events in the Arab revolution.

Given a few rehearsals, enemies become friends in music, Barenboim says.