QUICK TAKES - April 17, 2009
Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim stirred a sold-out Cairo Opera House Thursday with a performance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, drawing ovations in his first visit to Egypt.
The famed musician’s enthusiastic welcome in a major Arab capital reflected his years of advocacy for peace with Palestinians and the Arab world and his efforts to use music to bring people together in a region where conflict otherwise keeps them apart.
Barenboim began the concert with several piano solos and later conducted the Cairo Symphony Orchestra.
He is believed to be the first prominent Israeli musician to perform in Cairo.
Responding to his critics among both Arabs and Israelis, Barenboim said his efforts to bring musicians from both sides together was not a political project, but a human one aimed at encouraging people to express their opinions.
“We don’t represent Israel and I don’t represent any government,” he told reporters Wednesday.
--
Associated Press
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
