Let There Be Peace on Earth

Peace Concert Held at Korea’s DMZ

August 16, 2011

Daniel Barenboim, the world-renowned conductor and pianist, led a peace concert performed by the West -Eastern Divan Orchestra in Imjingak near Korea’s Demilitarized Zone on the country’s Independence Day.

Part of the WEDO’s tour in Seoul, this finale concert was organized in efforts to bring “understanding, patience, courage and curiosity to listen to one another,” the 69-year old conductor said in a video message prior to Monday’s concert amid high tensions between the two Koreas. The WEDO performed the Beethoven symphony cycle during its three-day concert in Seoul, culminating in No. 9 in D minor “Choral” at the Korean border.

Beethoven’s 9th symphony, also known as “Ode to Joy,” was chosen to deliver a message of peace and “strength of humanity,” according to Barenboim as Beethoven composed this widely celebrated piece while losing his hearing abilities. . . .

 

http://abcnews.go.com/International/daniel-barenboim-conduct-peace-concert-koreas-dmz/story?id=14314750