On Monday (11/1) the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports, “Conductor Daniel Barenboim was awarded a German peace prize for his efforts to bring Israelis and Palestinians together. The Westphalia Peace Prize, worth about $70,000, was presented by German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in ceremonies Saturday in Muenster City Hall. Barenboim, 67, a pianist and general music director at Berlin’s State Opera, was honored particularly for his creation, with the late Palestinian scholar Edward Said, of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which brings together Jewish, Christian and Muslim musicians. The award will be shared with the orchestra, according to news reports. Several musicians from the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra performed at the ceremony. In delivering the prize, Westerwelle praised the project as ‘an orchestra without borders’ that brings younger generations together. … Barenboim called the award ‘a great and deep honor’ and added that a two-state solution to the conflict was urgently needed.”
Posted November 2, 2010
