42 | FEBRUARY 20 • 2020 continued from page 41 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