Daniel Barenboim and the WEDO in Ramallah

In the midst of the Middle East conflict, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra with Daniel Barenboim travels to Ramallah to make a statement.

In August 2005, the world looks to Ramallah: 80 young Arab, Spanish and Jewish musicians travel to the Palestinian capital to play the concert of their lives. The "West-Eastern Divan Orchestra" under Daniel Barenboim makes history with this unique performance.

Although an official ceasefire was in effect at the time of the concert, the Middle East conflict was by no means resolved - and it still is not. In Israel, the undertaking was viewed critically in the run-up to the event, and Barenboim was publicly attacked. A few days before the concert, Spain offered visas for the entire orchestra to prevent a conceivable cancellation and to guarantee security.

With this performance, the orchestra set an example - not least through the selection of the program: If Beethoven's "Fate Symphony" stands for a vision of reconciliation between people, Mozart's "Sinfonia concertante" also impressively underscores that peaceful coexistence is possible through music, since the soloists on bassoon, horn, oboe and clarinet come from Israel, Syria and Egypt.

This magic moment is not only shown in the concert recording. Documentary passages about the creation of the orchestra and the interaction between the musicians, as well as images from the spectacular Ramallah trip, make musical history tangible. In newly filmed conversations, Daniel Barenboim, Mariam C. Said and selected musicians recall this memorable evening. Prominent friends of the orchestra such as actor Christoph Waltz, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and singer Waltraud Meier explore the question of what music can achieve in such a context.

Original title Sternstunden der Musik | Daniel Barenboim und das West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in Ramallah
Duration 43 minutes
Director Anne-Kathrin Peitz
Producer Claus Wischmann
Executive Producer Christopher Janssen
Production Company ZDF/ARTE, sounding images
Orchestra / Band West-Eastern Divan Orchestra
Conductor Daniel Barenboim
Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Ludwig van Beethoven
Original title of music work Sinfonia concertante KV 297b; 5. Sinfonie, c-Moll, Opus 67
Distribution VOD C Major Entertainment GmbH