Daniel Barenboim & West-Eastern Divan Orchestra
Experience the power of hope through music-making with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, uniting young Israeli and Arab performers.
The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra was co-founded by Daniel Barenboim and the writer and philosopher Edward Said specifically to bring together young musicians from Israeli and Arab backgrounds in a shared musical endeavour.
The intention is profoundly humanitarian: to create an ensemble that would become a symbol of hope and possibility in a region riven by conflict. These efforts continue to this day and perhaps are more necessary than ever.
Across its 25 years of existence, the orchestra has continued to unite young musicians from the Middle East who might otherwise never have encountered one another.
In this very special concert, the ensemble is joined by Barenboim himself for a celebration of great orchestral repertoire.
Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.4, the Italian, a travelogue in music, depicts the composer’s joy in the country’s Mediterranean sunshine, its mystical atmospheres and its national dances.
Symphony No.4 in E minor is the last of Brahms’ symphonies and may have been inspired by Sophocles’ tragedies, which the composer was researching at the time.
Performers
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra
Daniel Barenboim conductor
Repertoire
Mendelssohn: Symphony No.4 in A (Italian)
Interval
Brahms: Symphony No.4 in E minor
Need to know
Exclusive box package available, including:
Hire of a private box (seats up to 8 people)
One free drink per guest on arrival (prosecco, wine, beer or soft drink)
Dedicated host to take drinks orders throughout the event
Find out more about the music with our free programme.
View the programme
For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
Plan your visit
The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.