On Friday evening, Aug. 9, an historic concert took place in Berlin to mark the 25th anniversary of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra under the direction of co-founder Daniel Barenboim. In front of the impressive backdrop of the Berlin Waldbühne, which can hold over 22,000 spectators and whose construction is based on the ancient Greek theater in Epidaurus, the program included Johannes Brahms’ Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major op. 77, with Anne-Sophie Mutter as soloist, and Franz Schubert’s Great C Major Symphony. The concert was a masterful demonstration of how the power of classical composition can be made audible, with an orchestra and a soloist dedicated to the peaceful coexistence of all humanity. The political intent of the whole event was made clear by yesterday’s statement by the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which was displayed repeatedly on the large video screens in the Waldbühne. It reads:
“As we witness and mourn tens of thousands of lives destroyed and communities shattered while political courage remains absent, we, the musicians of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, are horrified and deeply saddened by the extreme escalation of violence in the Middle East, which continues to intensify daily….
“We call on the local and the international communities and their leaders to stop procrastinating and put an end to the cycle of violence by effecting a permanent ceasefire, ensuring the safe return of all hostages and unlawfully held detainees. It is imperative to work toward a long-lasting peaceful resolution grounded in equality.”
The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra was founded in 1999 by Palestinian intellectual Edward Said and Maestro Daniel Barenboim: “In their exchanges, they realized the urgent need for an alternative way to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The opportunity to do this came when Barenboim and Said initiated the first workshop using their experience as a model. This evolved into the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra that global audiences know today.”
