KNOWLEDGE IS THE BEGINNING

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is a pan-Middle Eastern group of musicians from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia and Israel; a metaphor for peaceful co-existence in the region. Based on the notion that ‘music is the language of peace', conductor Daniel Barenboim and Palestinian-born professor Edward Said created the West-East Divan Orchestra. Their hope was to see Israeli and Arab musicians playing side-by-side as an example for reconciling the peoples of the Middle East. Knowledge is the Beginning follows the development of the orchestra over five years as the musicians overcome their prejudices, and the project gains popularity and support from around the globe - even being joined for a time by virtuoso cellist Yo-Yo Ma. 

Check out the Talking Picture Session - Screens of David