West-Eastern Divan Orchestra facts for kids
The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is a special group of young musicians. They come from Israel and many Arab countries nearby. This orchestra is based in Seville, Spain.
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What is the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra?
The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is an orchestra for young people. It brings together talented musicians from different backgrounds. The main goal is to help young Israelis and Arabs work together. They learn about each other through music. This helps them build peace and understanding.
Who Started the Orchestra?
The orchestra was started in 1999. Two important people created it. One was Daniel Barenboim, a famous conductor. He is Jewish. The other was Edward Said, a Palestinian-American academic. The orchestra's name comes from poems by a German poet named Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Where Does the Orchestra Meet?
The first time the orchestra met was in Weimar, Germany. This was in 1999. Weimar was a special cultural city that year. In 2000, they met in Weimar again. In 2001, they met in Chicago, USA. Since 2002, the orchestra has met every summer in Seville, Spain.
During the summer, the musicians spend several weeks together. They practice and learn in a workshop. After the workshop, they travel to many places. They give concerts in Europe, North America, and South America.
A Special Concert in Palestine
In 2004, the orchestra played a very important concert. It was in Ramallah, a city in Palestine. After the concert, Daniel Barenboim spoke. He said that Israelis and Palestinians share a future. He meant they need to work together. He said, "Either we all kill each other, or we share what there is to share." He wanted to bring this message of sharing.
The Barenboim-Said Foundation
In 2004, the Barenboim-Said Foundation was created. It is based in Seville. This foundation helps support the orchestra. It also helps with other education projects. For example, it supports a music education project for young children in Seville. The government of Andalusia helps fund this foundation.
Achievements and Recognition
The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra has won many prizes. They have also made many recordings of their music. A film was even made about them. It is called Knowledge is the Beginning.
In August 2009, the orchestra played three concerts. These were part of the BBC Proms in London. One concert was a special performance of Beethoven’s opera Fidelio. This opera tells a story about people who are put in prison for their political beliefs.
