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

