Star conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim has started a new YouTube channel. In his introductory video, the renowned musician, who currently serves as the General Music Director of the Berlin State Opera and the Staatskapelle Berlin, announces plans to publish videos once a week in which he explains his views on music but also on political and social matters and anything “to do with the human being”. Episode 1 is dedicated to Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 (in D-minor), viewers are also encouraged to post comments and write requests for future videos.Barenboim is one of the most prolific and socially engaged conductors and pianists in the present international scene for classical music. Next to his exceptional musical career, with previous positions including that of a long-term conductor at the Bayreuth Festival, musical director of the Opera-Bastille in Paris, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and La Scala in Milan, as well as solo concerts with some of the world’s most legendary conductors and performers, he is known for his humanistic engagement.In 1999 Barenboim, who is of Argentine and Israeli decent with Spanish and Palestinian citizenships, founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra together with Palestinian scholar Edward Said. Originally initiated as a workshop for Israeli, Palestinian and other Arab musicians the orchestra today resides in Seville.The Berlin based Barenboim-Said Academy, intended to musically train Palestinian and Israeli musicians together, is scheduled for inauguration later this year.
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