Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Spoken Word :: Beethoven: Symphony No. 5; Mozart: Sinfonia concertante, K 297 b

Daniel Barenboim: A Passionate Ambassador

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 07/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Daniel Barenboim, an Argentine pianist and conductor by birth who has become one of the more important artists on the international podium today, formed the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra comprised of Israeli and Arab musicians as a template for how peoples through time disparate can come together through the purity and redemption of music. If there is a path to healing the scars on this region of constant struggle, Barenboim just may be more of an ambassador of goodwill than any other person involved in the difficult negotiations.



He conducts his orchestra, which incidentally is surprisingly fine for having been formed for such a short time, in Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in a performance that is very moving, fiery, and lyrical. He then turns to Mozart's sublimely beautiful Sinfonia Concertante K 297 and the orchestra is able to reduce its big sound to an elegant chamber communication. The performance is recorded from a live evening in Ramallah but the acoustics captured by the engineers is quite good.



This recording includes the speech, or plea for understanding, that moved the audience (and moves the listener) to a higher plane of insight. Barenboim then quietly closes the concert with an exquisite performance of Elgar's 'Nimrod Variation' from his 'Enigma Variations' - and the impact of this music following this concert is palpable. This is a recording that is not only musically sound but also spiritually uplifting - and we all need to hear and experience it. Grady Harp, July 06"

Superb music, powerful message

Mr. J. C. A. Marshall | England | 03/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Inspirational music, brilliantly played, then a passionate 4 minute speach and encore that brings tears to the eyes and makes the whole recording 100 times more powerful. Everyone should listen to it!"

Wonderful inspirational music

M. ARIDA | Burlington, NC | 12/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is so inspiring to listen to this great music and think about the harmony between those Arab and Israeli musicians. It is a glimmer of hope for a peaceful future."