“Beethoven was a deeply political man in the broadest sense of the word. He was not interested in daily politics, but concerned with questions of moral behaviour and the larger questions of right and wrong affecting the entire society.”

Argentinian-born classical pianist and conductor

Daniel Barenboim is an Argentinian-born classical pianist and conductor, born in 1942. He holds Spanish, Israeli and Palestinian citizenship, and is known for his long career at the center of classical music. From 1992 until January 2023, he served as general music director of the Berlin State Opera and as Staatskapellmeister of its orchestra, the Staatskapelle Berlin. His public voice is shaped by a life spent in performance and musical leadership.