"Es gibt keine Partitur für den Nahen Osten"

Last night’s concert, which presented Beethoven’s symphony no. 9 played by the West-Eastern Divan orchestra in the Cologne Philharmonie, has in some way marked a historic moment.

Not only was it a breathtaking performance both by this young orchestra comprising Israeli and Arab musicians and the choir of the Berlin Staatsoper but it has also made a much needed and crucial statement while tensions have once again stirred up the situation in the Middle East.

The West-Eastern Divan was founded by Edward Said (a highly admired mind whose death on 25 September 2003 in New York was a shock and a tragic loss for all of us) and Daniel Barenboim, the conductor of last night’s concert. Please see Barenboim’s latest interview he has given yesterday in Cologne.

Özlem

PS. Among all the Italian, Spanish, Israeli and Arab musicians I have found the one and only Turkish violine. He was an Istanbul-Chicago connection...awesome!