Daniel Barenboim & West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra was co-founded by Daniel Barenboim and the writer and philosopher Edward Said specifically to bring together young musicians from Israeli and Arabic backgrounds in a shared musical endeavour. The intention is profoundly humanitarian: to create an ensemble that would become a symbol of hope and possibility in a region riven by conflict. These efforts continue to this day and perhaps are more necessary than ever. Across its 25 years of existence, the orchestra has continued to unite young musicians from the Middle East who might otherwise never have encountered one another. In this very special concert, the ensemble is joined by Barenboim himself for a celebration of great orchestral repertoire. It culminates with Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.4, the Italian, a travelogue in music that depicts the composer’s joy in the country’s Mediterranean sunshine, its mystical atmospheres and its national dances.