Elgar: Nimrod (from Enigma Variations)

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra was the brainchild of Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim and the late Palestinian-born writer Edward Said, and is a unique musical collaboration dedicated to further the cause of a peaceful co-existence in the Middle East.

The DVD documents the orchestra’s August 2005 concert in the Palestinian Territory in the city of Ramallah, and includes repertoire for which Barenboim is celebrated – Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat major and Elgar’s Nimrod (from Enigma Variations). The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra’s appearance at the 2005 Proms, including a performance of the Mozart, was acclaimed as played by “an orchestra on fire with passion and purpose” in The Times.

Also included, a newly revised feature-length documentary Knowledge is The Beginning, filmed over a six year period, telling the story of Barenboim and Said’s friendship and their development of the orchestra, through interviews, rehearsal and concert excerpts. Extra material includes Barenboim’s controversial award of the Wolf Prize from the Israeli parliament in 2005 and footage of Edward Said.

The DVD’s fascination is in witnessing musicians – possibly the only people involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict who know people ‘from the other side’ – making music together under the baton of a legendary conductor. Their playing attains to levels normally only achieved by the leading orchestras of the world – an unheralded coming together of musical and humanitarian concerns.

"This DVD documents a historical landmark in the development of musical and human relations in the Middle East. It was an unforgettable evening for all who participated, listened and watched. Making this event possible, first of all, showed the great courage and dedication of each and every young musician in the orchestra regardless of their origin; courage to play with and listen to the other. In addition, it represented the result of great imagination and goodwill of many officials in all the countries involved in this vast organisational puzzle. For this I wish to thank the Junta de Andalucía for its moral and financial support, and the Spanish government for having the vision to issue diplomatic passports for all concerned, which made the impossible merely impossibly difficult.” (Daniel Barenboim)