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Based on the notion that "music is the language of peace", Barenboim and comparative literature professor Edward Said brought together Arab and Israeli musicians, to perform in Weimar on the 250th anniversary of the birth of Goethe. Also participating in this bold experiment in 1999 was Yo-Yo Ma. The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, a name derived from a collection of poems by Goethe, today embraces eighty Arab and Israeli musicians aged thirteen to twenty-six.

Director Paul Smaczny has followed the orchestra since its inception. The film chronicles all five summer workshops in Weimar and Seville, Barenboim's visit to Ramallah and Jerusalem in May 2004 – during which he received the prestigious Wolf Prize at the Knesset – as well as the sensational concert in Ramallah in August 2005.

Production: EuroArts Music International GmbH
Tel : +49 341 14 0840
Contact: Franck Gerdes
Year: 2006
Director: Paul Smaczny
Editing: Steffen Herrmann
Cinematography: Nyika Jancso, Michael Boomers, Yoram Millo
Sound: Toine Mertens, Georg Obermayer, Andreas Kφppen
DigiBeta  –  couleur  –  115 mn


Filmography: Paul Smaczny
My Favourite Opera series (1989–1991)
Opera Tales series (1993–1994)
Entre-Quatre-z-Yeux (1998)
Maestros in Democracy (2000)
Multiple Identities – Encounters with Daniel Barenboim (2001)
Lessons in Harmony (2002)
Claudio Abbado – Entendre le silence (2003)


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biography

Producer, director and screenwriter Paul Smaczny studied law, French and German literature, film and theatre in Germany and Paris. He has produced or directed more than 150 films and television programs throughout the world, capturing some of the most important musical events of the last fifteen years, featuring such renowned orchestras and opera houses as the Berliner Philharmoniker, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Staatsoper Berlin or La Scala in Milan. Since 2001 he has been the Managing Director of EuroArts Music International.