Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 5 in E Minor Op. 64 (Barenboim & West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in Geneva)

From the "Concert pour la paix" at Victoria Hall in Geneva,
Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra perform Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E-minor, Op. 64.

Pjotr Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 5 in E Minor Op. 64

00:00 I Andante: Allegro con anima
15:04 II Andante cantabile, con alcuna licenza
27:31 III Valse: Allegro moderato
33:24 IV Finale: Andante maestoso - Allegro vivace

Daniel Barenboim - conductor and piano
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

In the face of political and ideological divides between their respective countries, five years ago Daniel Barenboim, an Argentinean Jew and Israel’s most famous conductor and pianist, along with Christian Palestinian philosopher Edward Said, put together the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.
Symbolically named after Goethe’s book of poems called West-Östlicher Divan, a synthesis of Islamic and European poetry published as the Napoleonic Wars drew to a close, the Orchestra comprises an equal number of young Israeli and Arab musicians aged between 13 and 26. For all its symbolism, and hopefully something rather more than that, the aims and ambitions of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra are first and foremost musical ones: the Middle East’s political divides are eschewed for a union of musical talent, which speaks volumes for cultural interaction. Once the music starts, that is what matters. And it mattered considerably at this concert, the orchestra’s members fresh from a residency in Seville – radiating learning and conviction, and sharing the wonderful power of music in no uncertain terms. In this live recording from a concert in the Victoria Hall in Geneva two familiar masterworks were presented with significant import, Beethoven’s 3rd piano concerto and Tchaikovsky's famous 5th Symphony. As an encore, we also hear the overture from Verdi's La Forza del destino and Jean Sibelius' "Valse triste".

Directed by Bob Cole

A production of EuroArts Music International
In Coproduction with Fundación tres Culturas del Mediterráneo

© 2004 EuroArts Music International

[RichardDavies-pfdd]

I consider the Symphony Orchestra to be the greatest creative achievement of Western civilisation. Shows us that we can shine.The ultimate collaboration.

[ЛапинСтаниславович]

The best version of this symphony by P.I. Tchaikovsky. Thank you conductor, thank you orchestra guys. Best regards from Russia.

[jimwinchester]

Tchaikovsky's 5th, mvmt. 1, is such an epic - not just that it's a work of genius (nobody disputes that) or beauty (nobody disputes that either), but that he made something so complex & ingenious so easy to see and appreciate on a variety of levels. The individual motifs and themes are simple & catchy, the individual voices in the orchestra are sufficiently isolated & clear to pick out, the orchestration is, as usual, up the masterful Tchaikovsky standard (i.e., incomparable); the development is skillful and its overall construction just superb.
He is not my favorite composer, but I have nothing but admiration and praise for this absolutely top-shelf symphony. It is totally deserving of its secured immortality in the classical repertoire.

[davidj.]

As I watch this concert 19 years after the event took place, the music fueled by the enthusiastic optimism of the young players to transcend political and cultural animosities, I can't help but wonder where each of them are today and where their lives have taken them since this performance. Sadly, the world is not any more a better place than it was that night but I will hope that these musicians have kept the spirit of this concert in their hearts and lives.

[DianaGamerosMusic]

Finding solace in this music (especially in the second movement 15:05) as I watch this today Oct 14 2023, in the midst of recent attacks by Hamas in Israel and Israel's invasion of Gaza.

"In the face of political and ideological divides between their respective countries, Daniel Barenboim, an Argentinean Jew and Israel’s most famous conductor and pianist, along with Christian Palestinian philosopher Edward Said, put together the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra."

[ЛапинСтаниславович]

Прекрасно, великолепно сыграли. Спасибо, спасибо, спасибо.

[popqueen]

Yet another soul cleansing transcending heart grabbing performance by Maestro Barenboim (and the orchestra )… I got teary … couldn’t stop listing to this for hours in replay… Thank you so much for sharing this speechless performance❤…

[Dylonely]

Barenboim is one of the greatest legends of our time.

[eamonanderson]

So rewarding to see the young people work so hard and achieve such a wonderful performance. I actually laughed at one point to see how hard some of musicians were working. Outstanding!

[reileone]

I wonder if Mr Barenboim has ever been nominated to the Nobel Prize for Peace ... He truly deserves it ...

[davidevans]

packed with Tchaikovskian gems, packed!
and mr Barenboim looks like he's enjoying it..
a painter with an enormous canvas..
thankyou for sharing this..

gosh, the orchestra and conductor are really playing their hearts out!

[Vekturnus]

в конце аж сам заулыбался - как же выразительно музыканты отыграли. одни положительные эмоции от столь красивой музыки.

[ericvlakameyev]

Well that was truly amazing. Wisdom and youth making great music.

[waqtube]

Hello every one I am brown colored savage from Pakistan I saw Barenboim conduct Tchaivosky symp No 5 in Birmingham UK My most favourite part is Andante Cantible An English lady of high culture taught me details of this symphony Andante Cantible is borrowed from a now forgotten German musician Joachim Raff I am also very fond of Igor Markevitch and Vladimir Ashkernazi did a wonderful sharp interpretation Though I love this out put but Sixth is pinnacle of Tchaivosky

[ClaudeRochon]

when the sweat comes pouring down on those face's involved in the room and nothing will stop this effusion... until the work is done.. .. you know you're onto something

[samueldefreitas]

Es de mis sinfonías preferidas, dirigida por uno de los mejores de estos tiempos el grande Baremboin y la interpretación de la orquesta es magnífica 👏. Ojalá poder ver bien sea a Baremboin o a esta orquesta en Vivo.

[paulescudero]

Fantastic concert and the fidelity of the recording is wonderful. Very inspiring.

[danielesussarello]

Il mio sogno è quello di andare ad ascoltare un tale concerto credo che sia la cosa più bella in assoluto ❤❤❤❤❤

[m.lutfiovecoglu]

This second part makes you feel this extremely beautiful music in your entire being. This music and tones definitely come from heaven..

[fredesvindasalazar]

The 2nd movement celestial, amazing.. bravo orchestra, grande Beremboin