Thursday, Jun. 30, 2016 5:40 p.m.
Saw a documentary about the West-Eastern Divan orchestra earlier. The project was Initiated by conductor/pianist Daniel Barenboim (Jewish) and scholar/pianist Edward Said (Palestinian) to promote mutual reflection and understanding by bringing young musicians from different Middle Eastern countries (some in conflict) to play in an orchestra together. Barenboim was awarded the Wolf Prize in Israel and he took the opportunity to make this extremely moving speech. By the way, Edward Said seemed extremely charismatic (unfortunately, I'm not familiar with his work at all)! Barenboim's piano playing is also divine.
The said documentary is called Knowledge Is the Beginning, directed by Paul Smaczny, who also made the documentary El sistema. The film screening is part of Orchestrations, an exhibition by Samson Young https://www.facebook.com/events/243793702645986/ |