42 | FEBRUARY 20 • 2020
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Arts&Life
music
the Barenboim-Said Academy,
also started by his father,
developed the ensemble in
the spirit of the West-Eastern
Divan Orchestra, only with a
more musician-focused for-
mat.
The idea of the ensemble
is to provide concertgoers a
more intimate atmosphere to
experience the musicians, said
Barenboim, the orchestra’
s
concertmaster.
“If you hear a big sympho-
ny, whatever it is, you maybe
will not have a connection
with the cellist, violist or who-
ever,
” he says. “We give the
public an opportunity to have
a closer contact and be more
exposed individually than just
a collective.
”
The program, he said,
allows members of the
ensemble to shine and show
their musical abilities. Plus,
a chamber group can more
easily travel than an orchestra
because of its smaller size.
Barenboim will play in
Ann Arbor alongside musi-
cians including Israeli cellist
Assif Binness, Israeli violist
Miriam Manasherov, Egyptian
violist Sindy Mohamed,
Jordanian violinist Samir
Naser Abdel Hamid Obaido,
Palestinian violinist Yamen
Saadi, Armenian cellist Astrig
Spidak Siranossian and Israeli
violinist David Strongin. The
musicians have all been play-
ing in the West-Eastern Divan
Orchestra for several years.
“We have a certain affinity
and understanding of each
other musically,
” Barenboim
said. “When we start rehears-
ing, it immediately sounds
like we’
ve already been playing
whatever we’
re rehearsing.
For me, it’
s a great joy and
musical understanding we all
have together, and that’
s very
special.
”
Barenboim’
s personal ven-
ture into instrumental music
began when he started playing
the violin at age 7. He said he
was drawn to the instrument’
s
beautiful, melodic sound
before becoming fascinated by
its capacity to allow so many
ways of playing despite having
only four strings.
Barenboim appreciates that
both he and the orchestra con-
tinue to learn from his father
whenever they are in rehearsal
or in concert. He also values
times when father and son can
perform together in programs
apart from the orchestra.
The two have played piano
trios together, including full
cycles of Beethoven’
s piano
trios with the cellist Kian
Soltani. “It was a great experi-
ence, and I’
m lucky to do that
sort of thing,
” Barenboim said
Barenboim also plays
with his wife, pianist Natalia
Pegarkova-Barenboim, who
will perform a solo concert
in Berlin featuring works by
women composers in celebra-
tion of International Women’
s
Day on March 8.
The couple encourage the
musical abilities of their two
children, a 5-year-old son
interested in the cello and a
3-year-old daughter who pre-
fers violin at the moment.
Barenboim said members
of the West-Eastern Divan
Orchestra are transformed by
the new people they meet and
get a chance to make music
with.
“I’
ve seen many people
with many different views and
opinions. What’
s common to
all of them is that they come
out richer with much more
understanding.
”
Gianni
S
chic
chi
Giacomo Puccini, composer
-
and-
Buoso’
s
Ghost
Michael Ching, composer
February 29 & March 1
at Macomb Center for the Performing Arts
MichiganOpera.org or 313.
237.
7464
This project is supported by awards from
LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE!
Two delightful farces that wittily expose
mankind’s natural inclination for greed.
PRODUCTION
SPONSOR
Dine at
Steve and Rocky’s
in the New Year!
STEVE & ROCKY’
S
43150 Grand River Avenue
Novi, MI 48375
248.374.0688
steveandrockys.com