West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim, Kian Soltani

Daniel Barenboim conducts the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.5 and Strauss’ Don Quixote in tribute to Jacqueline du Pré, for the MS Society.

Daniel Barenboim and academic Edward Said formed the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra to open dialogues between Israeli and Palestinian musicians.

Under Barenboim’s leadership, the ensemble goes from strength to strength, delivering performances as profound as the philosophy behind its formation.

Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.5 certainly demands such insight. Throughout the work, Tchaikovsky charts what he called ‘the inscrutable designs of Providence’, played out as a tussle between despair and hope.

Inspired by the novel by Miguel de Cervantes, Strauss retells on Quixote in music of ravishing beauty. The eponymous central character is represented by the solo cello, performed by exciting young Iranian cellist Kian Soltani.

Performers:
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra
Daniel Barenboim - conductor
Kian Soltani - cello

Repertoire:
R Strauss: Don Quixote
Interval
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5