Daniel Barenboim
Biography
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1942 into a Russian Jewish family, Daniel Barenboim was a piano prodigy who first made his name in the 1960s as a performer of the classical keyboard repertory.
His performances of Beethoven's Sonatas became legendary and he was one of the first musicians in the modern era to revive the idea of performing Mozart’s piano concertos without a conductor, directing them instead from the keyboard - as Mozart himself used to do.
Daniel Barenboim released his book, 'La Musica Sveglia il Tempo' (Music Awakens Time) in 2007. He was also made an honorary patron of the Japan Art Association when he received the 2007 Praemium Imperiale in Japan. The prize, created to honour artists whose work has had a significant international impact, comes with an award of 15 million yen. Claudio Abbado, Mstislav Rostropovich, Steve Reich and Oscar Peterson are previous recipients.
Music
At the very pinnacle of his profession for more than 40 years, Barenboim, who was married to classical cellist Jacqueline du Pre, is renowned for his longstanding relationships with some of the world's finest orchestras - the Chicago Symphony, the Berlin Staatskapelle, and the Berlin Philharmonic, as well as the Berlin Staatsoper Unter den Linden, where he was artistic director for many years.
Barenboim guest-conducts at the annual Wagner festival at Bayreuth, where he has achieved fabulous musical results down the years.
While the pianist and conductor is best known for his closeness to the great masterworks of Austro-German classical and Romantic music - Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, Wagner - he's also a strong supporter of living composers.
Daniel Barenboim on Classic FM
Listen to Daniel Barenboim talking to Classic FM in August 2008.
Discography
2006 - Bach - Well Tempered Clavier Books 1 & 2
2004 - Elgar: Cello Concerto; Enigma" Variations; Pomp and Circumstance Marches No. 1 & 4
2000 - Beethoven Symphonies No. 4 & 5
1999 - Beethoven Symphonies No. 7 & 8
Beethoven Symphonies No. 6
1998 - Hilary and Jackie - Music from the Motion Picture
1996 - Mozart/Strauss/Weber: Oboe Concertos; Bassoon Concerto; Andante e Rondo
1995 - Lalo: Symphonie espagnole; Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3.
1994 - Elgar: Symphony No.1, "Cockaigne" Overture, Romance
1990 - Brahms: The 3 Violin Sonatas
1983 - Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Villa-Lobos: Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra
Barenboim: music shouldn't be straitjacketed
Daniel Barenboim gave a surprise free concert at the Tate Modern on Friday. He told us he likes playing in unusual places.
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Barenboim and Mehta collect top awards
Two of the finest conductors have received awards this week: Barenboim has won the Legion of Honour & Mehta a Hollywood star.
