Paul Smaczny

Knowledge Is the Beginning / The Ramallah Concert Paul Smaczny

Director Paul Smaczny follows Daniel Barenboim during the creation of his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Established over a seven year period with the late Palestinian writer, Edward Said, Barenboim's orchestra, which features young musicians from across the political divide in the Middle East, seeks to bring people together by bridging cultural barriers and promoting tolerance of religious and political differences. Also included is a live recording of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra performing at Ramallah's Cultural Palace in 2005.

The featured pieces include: Mozart: 'Sinfonia concertante in E flat major'; Beethoven: 'Symphony No.5 in C minor, op.67'; and Edward Elgar: 'Nimrod from Enigma Variations, op.36'.