Thu, 30 Mar 2006
Ramallah - Beethoven No. 5
Live in Ramallah - Beethoven Symphony No. 5
- Mozart Sinfonia Concertante, K297b
Daniel Barenboim
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra
CD, Warner Classics
The key to this orchestra is the peace. Founded by two exceptional human
beings, Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said, artists and intellectuals
alike, the aim being to create an environment for cross-cultural
contact, musical study, and the sharing of knowledge. Orchestras are the
ideal democracy, with all involved creating equilibrium with the next -
without this, music would not happen. This is a key concept in the
situation they were playing.
The concert took place in the West Bank, the rehearsal guarded by armed
troops, but the atmosphere inside one of calm and relaxation. The
unusual nature of the concert comes about due to participants: Israeli,
Arab, and Andalusian citizens performing as one united orchestra - the
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. The name came about through a collection
of poems by Goethe, the significance here being Goethe.
"He was the first German to be truly interested in other countries - he
started learning Arabic when he was over sixty".
Understandably, no person involved believed for on minute that this
concert was going to solve the political problems faced in the West Bank
and it's surroundings. There was however a meeting of two cultures on a
friendly term. The musicians, and families alike had the chance to get
to know each other.
"The only political aspect that permeates the workshop is the
understanding that there is no military solution".
The music is of exceptional quality, with a perfect ensemble
particularly giving the live performance. Mozart opens the programme
creating a friendly, chatty, but not flippant atmosphere. This is
followed by Beethoven's Fifth. A much more serious piece of music, this
is a good test of the emotional quality of the players. All stand up to
the challenge creating an exciting, powerful, and most of all uplifting
performance, which must be ranked amongst the best. Finally, the Elgar
creates an emotionally fitting ending to the concert, and leaves with us
all a sense of progression, a sense of purpose, and a feeling of peace
and courage both now and in the near future.
Please listen to this music and really remember what it is about. If you
need to listen to it again to understand the nature of the event, take a
day off work and listen to it throughout :)
(E Walton)
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pre Dec 04 reviews are here
