“Most of the dramatism in Wagner comes from a very close link between the music and the language of the text. So much of the expressivity of Wagner's music dramas comes from the singers' capacity to play with the sound of the language. This kind of thing you can do very well in concert performance.”

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.