The 82-year-old has held the position of music director for prestigious institutions such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin State Opera, and La Scala in Milan. He is also recognized for his dedication to fostering peace through music in the Middle East. In 2022, he reduced his performance engagements due to a “serious neurological condition.” On Thursday, he publicly acknowledged the long-anticipated diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
“I understand that many have been worried about my health,” he stated, expressing gratitude for the support he has received over the past three years. The musician clarified that he is not fully retiring and intends to uphold as many of his professional responsibilities as his health allows.
He emphasized his commitment to the future of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which he co-founded in 1999. This ensemble aims to encourage collaboration among young musicians from Israel and Arab countries.
“It has been flattering to describe it as a project for peace,” Barenboim remarked. “However, it is not. It will not bring peace, regardless of the quality of our performance. The Divan was established as an initiative against ignorance, highlighting the necessity for individuals to understand one another’s perspectives and feelings, even if they do not agree.”
The orchestra’s performances have consistently been a highlight at the BBC Proms since their inaugural appearance in 2003.Born in Argentina to Jewish parents, Barenboim gained recognition as a talented young pianist before relocating to Israel during his teenage years. He subsequently established himself as a prominent conductor, initially in Israel and later in Australia, where he led the Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras.
In 1967, he married British cellist Jacqueline du Pré in Jerusalem, converting to Judaism in the process. After her passing, he wed Russian pianist Elena Bashkirova.
In 1992, he took on the role of general musical director at Berlin’s State Opera, where he is credited with revitalizing the institution after it had fallen into decline during the communist era.
In 2001, Barenboim sparked controversy in Jerusalem by conducting the Prelude to Richard Wagner’s opera Tristan und Isolde at the Israel Festival. Wagner’s music had been unofficially banned in Israel due to his anti-Semitic views and his status as Adolf Hitler’s favored composer. Initially, Barenboim responded to protests from Holocaust survivors and political pressure, but at the conclusion of the concert, he asked the audience if they wished for him to perform Wagner after all. Despite some dissent, labeling it “the music of the concentration camps,” the majority of attendees encouraged him to continue, resulting in a standing ovation.
The conductor contended that while Wagner’s anti-Semitism was undeniable, he had passed away long before the rise of Nazism, and his music was “too significant” to overlook. “I didn’t want anyone who felt unable to listen to this music because of its association with Nazism to be confronted with it,” he explained to Israeli radio. “However, those who do not have that association should be able to experience it.”
