Classics for the rest of us

Israeli-Argentine conductor Daniel Barenboim called on classical musicians Thursday to abandon elitism and popularize their form, as he will be doing this weekend with a free concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“It’s very important to do mass events once in a while, to show that classical music is not elitist,” Barenboim told reporters after receiving the Bicentennial Medal for outstanding contributions on the 200th anniversary of Argentina’s independence.

Barenboim, 67, will direct a series of events on the 60th anniversary of his debut as a child pianist in Buenos Aires. On Saturday, Barenboim will direct his West-Eastern Divan orchestra, which includes Arab and Israeli musicians, in a free concert at the foot of Buenos Aires’ famous central obelisk.

The 10-concert tour kicked off Wednesday at the Teatro Colon with pieces by Beethoven and Verdi.

AFP