West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim

The Helsinki Festival for 2017 kicks off brilliantly with a world-class spring concert when the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, led by Conductor Daniel Barenboim, arrives in Finland to perform for the first time.

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra has made a grand impression with visits to Europe, Asia and North America, particularly because of its role as a musical ambassador of peace with regard to the conflicts in the Middle East. The orchestra endeavours to advance intercultural dialogue by bringing together representatives of different ethnic and religious groups. The members of the orchestra comprise talented young Arab and Israeli musicians.

As one of the top current names in classical music, Argentine-born Daniel Barenboim founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and has also initiated several music education projects in different countries. The most recent project is the Barenboim-Said Akademie founded in Berlin, where students, including WEDO members, study both music and the humanities.

Named as a UN Messenger of Peace in 2007, Barenboim is a well-known conductor and esteemed pianist. His previous visit to Finland was for a piano recital during spring 2016. Barenboim also conducted the Staatskapelle Berlin orchestra at the Helsinki Festival in 2014.