Viola Profonda --'The missing link '

Last night I was at a gathering with a difference . Food , drink , people, music were all present. So what you may ask was so special. Composers and friends of the Viola Profonda project gathered at "Cafe am Ufer" in Kreuzberg for an evening of music including a live presentation of the Viola Profonda. It was sensational.
Present was Bolivian composer, director and instrument-developer Gerardo Yañez . He certainly has created a masterpiece with this instrument .Look it up on line and see why I've referred to it as the missing link.
The American composer Daniel Leo Simpson was the very special guest and presented a work he has written especially for the instrument. The rich warm timbre was a joy to hear. The talent was amazing and ensured a programme of music including classical, flamenco, tango and Bolivian pipe music and so much more. Proof once again that multi culturism works.

Daniel Barenboim & The West Eastern Divan Orchestra .

There are people in this world who rank as truly special. Daniel Barenboim is such .

It's ten years since he and the late Edward Said had the vision and energy to create an Arab - Israeli youth orchestra. No easy task, yet these two men managed it. After Said's death in 2003 , Barenboim , who is artistic director of the Berlin State Opera, travelling guest conductor and world famous solo pianist, continues the work with this wonderful orchestra. Some workload ! The players are 40% from Arab countries, 40% from Israel and 20% European. The results superb and today a packed audience at the Berlin Philharmonie were enthralled. Having been to many concerts in my life I can honestly say, never have I witnessed such applause. Also the interaction between players and conductor could be 'felt' it was so full of joy ,respect and spirit.

We had heard a chamber orchestra work for piano , violin and 13 wind instruments by Alban Berg. Then came Beethoven's Symphony Nr 3 Eroica.

The above picture of Barenboim has a quotation of his. For none German speakers :-

'What is music ? Is music some thing that helps us to forget the world, or is music something through which we can understand the world ? For me it is both '

Daniel Barenboim Zeit -online

Then a picture of myself and a fellow music enthusiast. Here you see us by a poster advertising another concert on 21 August in the Waldbühnen Berlin. Another chance to see and hear this orchestra. The programme , Beethoven's Symphonies 8 & 9.

Well worth making a note in your diary and looking for tickets.

Fete de la Musique Berlin.

If you really want a great time and music is your thing ,then why not try Berlin this weekend where each year the Fete de la Musique marks the beginning of summer.
Throughout the city are 60 stages all staging a variety of music ( FREE ) .
You name it , you'll find it , every single genre ! Make any iPod freak go wild .
Berlin's Fête de la Musique celebrates the beginning of summer with an amazing variety of live concerts on around 60 stages throughout the city. All music genres are well represented, including world music and jazz, and just in case you missed it , all performances are free.
During the day you can have a terrific time and then at night off to the nightclubs where more performances continue until the early hours .
After that ,what better way to welcome summer yet again , than with an early morning dip at one of the many open air pools .... or ,if a recovery 'sleep in' is called for , no probs as the baths stay open even later at night in Summer .
Have fun ----------