Daniel Barenboim and his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra are marking Human Rights Day on Saturday, December 10, with a concert in Switzerland, aimed to draw attention to the human-rights situation worldwide. The orchestra’s motto ‘Equal in Music’ is borne out by its membership of young musicians from Israel, Palestine, Syria, Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries. The concert is being organised by ONUART, a Barcelona-based foundation which aims to ‘promote the presence of art in the domain of the United Nations, to favour understanding between cultures and societies and to promote principles that inspire the development of Human Rights’.

‘It is particularly important for me,’ said Barenboim, ‘to shape this concert on the Day for Human Rights with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. We are happy and proud to honour this day with its important message for the second time together with ONUART and the United Nations.’

The programme will comprise Haydn’s First Cello Concerto (played by the young Persian cellist Kian Soltani) and Mozart’s Sinfonia concertante, K297b for flute, oboe, horn, bassoon (with soloists from the orchestra).

The concert, which will take place at the Human Rights Hall, Palais des Nations, United Nations, Geneva, will be attended by leaders from the worlds of politics, culture and economics, and will be televised worldwide a potential audience of over 300 million; it will also be streamed live on Fidelio.

Home page image: Luis Castilla