Daniel Barenboim

 

Easton Press Daniel Barenboim books

A Life in Music - signed first edition - 1992

 

 

 

Who is Daniel Barenboim?

Daniel Barenboim, born on November 15, 1942, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is an internationally renowned pianist and conductor, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and versatile musicians of his generation. His career has spanned several decades, and he is celebrated for his extraordinary talent, dedication to music, and his contributions to fostering cultural understanding through the universal language of music. Barenboim's musical journey began at a very young age. A prodigious talent, he showed an early aptitude for the piano, giving his first public recital at the age of seven. His family, of Russian and Jewish descent, moved to Israel when he was a child, and he continued to develop his musical skills. By the time he was a teenager, he had already gained international recognition for his virtuoso piano performances.

In addition to his prowess as a pianist, Barenboim's career evolved to include conducting. He made his debut as a conductor in London in 1967 and quickly gained a reputation for his interpretative skills and ability to elicit powerful performances from orchestras. Barenboim has held prestigious positions with some of the world's leading orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin State Opera. One of the highlights of Barenboim's career is his longstanding association with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. He served as its chief conductor from 2002 to 2014, leaving a lasting impact on the orchestra's repertoire and artistic direction. His commitment to both the classical and modern repertoire, along with his advocacy for bringing music to a wider audience, has made him a influential figure in the world of classical music.

Beyond his accomplishments as a performer and conductor, Daniel Barenboim is known for his efforts to use music as a means of promoting dialogue and understanding between different cultures. In 1999, he co-founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, bringing together young musicians from Israel and Arab countries to foster a sense of shared humanity through music. Barenboim's awards and honors are numerous and include multiple Grammy Awards, the Wilhelm Furtwängler Prize, and the Prince of Asturias Concord Award. His impact on the world of classical music, his dedication to fostering cultural exchange, and his exceptional musicianship continue to make Daniel Barenboim a respected and beloved figure in the global musical community.
 

 

A Life in Music

A Life in Music reviews five decades of the rich and uniquely varied musical life of Daniel Barenboim. A child prodigy as a pianist and a virtuoso conductor of symphonics and operas, Barenhoim has known and worked with many of the most distinguished and exciting musicians of the 20th century, including Rubinstein, Furtwangler, Zubin Meta, Pierre Boulez, Fisher-Diskau, Pablo Casals, and not least his wife, Jacqueline du Pre. Recent years have included his work at the annual Wagner festival Bayreuth; in Berlin at the rebirth of the State Opera House; taking over from George Solti's 22-year regin in Chicago; his summer festival in Weimar, Germany, where young Arabs and Israelis can play music together; and his worldwide travels. Barenboim has revised and updated his memoir, giving us trenchant thoughts on Israel today, the problems facing young musicians, and the changing world of music at the beginning of the 21st century.

 

- One of the world's greatest musicians, Barenboim has a dedicated following who will be interested in reading about his life in his own words.

 

- Barenboim was married to celebrated cellist Jacqueline du Pre, the subject of the controversial film Hilary and Jackie.

 

- His championship of peaceful coexistence with Palestinians is highly controversial, as is his insistence on playing Wagner in Israel.