West-Eastern Divan Orchestra & Daniel Barenboim

Based in Seville, Spain, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra was founded in 1999 by conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim and literary theorist and writer Edward Said, in an attempt to bring together young musicians of Israeli, Palestinian, Iranian, and Arab nationalities in a spirit of international cooperation and understanding. The orchestra was named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's 1819 poetry anthology on occidental and oriental themes, "West-östlicher Diwan." Originally anticipated to be a small chamber group for a workshop to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Goethe...