What is the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra?
Q: What is the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra?
A: The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is a youth orchestra based in Sevilla, Spain. It consists of musicians from Israel and its surrounding Arab countries, and was founded in 1999 by Jewish conductor Daniel Barenboim and Palestinian-American academic Edward Said.
Q: What is the purpose of the orchestra?
A: The purpose of the orchestra is to bring Israelis and Palestinians together to work for peace and help solve the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Q: Where did the first workshop of the orchestra take place?
A: The first workshop of the orchestra took place in Weimar, Germany because it was designated as European cultural town in 1999.
Q: Who are some famous musicians that have worked with this orchestra?
A: Some famous musicians that have worked with this orchestra include cellist Yo Yo Ma.
Q: Where has this orchestra performed concerts?
A: This orchestra has given concerts in many parts of Europe, North America, South America, including an historic concert in Ramallah in Palestine.
Q: What other projects does the Barenboim-Said Foundation support besides this orchestra?
A: The Barenboim-Said Foundation supports several education projects such as Early Childhood Musical Education Project in Seville, as well as helping with funding for the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.
Q: In August 2009 what performance will they be giving at BBC Proms?
A: In August 2009 they will be giving three concerts at BBC Proms including a concert performance of Beethoven’s opera Fidelio which has a story about people who have been put in prison for their political ideas.
