“The thing about Wagner is we're always wrong about him, because he always embraces opposites. There are things in his operas which viewed one way are naturalistic, and viewed another way are symbolic, but the problem is you can't represent both views on stage at once.”

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.