Lang Lang and Barenboim: A festival of music in Lübeck!

Lang Lang and Barenboim: A festival of music in Lübeck!

On August 14, 2025, things will get hot in Lübeck at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (SHMF), as international pianist Lang Lang will perform together with the renowned West-Eastern Divan Orchestra under the direction of Daniel Barenboim. These two exceptional artists share a close artistic friendship that dates back to Lang Lang's debut at the age of 17. The evening promises to be both musically and emotionally touching.

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is committed to the unique mission of building bridges between people - regardless of origin, skin color or religion. It is made up of musicians from Israel and Arab countries and was founded in 1999 by Daniel Barenboim, Edward Said and Bernd Kauffmann. The name of the orchestra is a homage to Goethe's collection of poems "West-Eastern Divan", which focuses on artistic encounters between East and West. The orchestra is seen as a sign of hope in the context of the Middle East conflict that strives for peaceful solutions.

The message of the music

Lang Lang, who is celebrated worldwide for his virtuoso piano performances, is also active as a UN peace ambassador. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether he will address the current political situation in Lübeck that evening, especially since he sees himself as a non-political artist and has no direct connection to the Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, his colleague Daniel Barenboim has already withdrawn him from his last appearances due to health problems.

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is made up of young musicians between the ages of 14 and 25. These talents come from different countries such as Egypt, Syria, Iran and Israel. Such encounters are not only musically enriching for the members of the orchestra, but also a valuable experience in terms of intercultural exchange and understanding.

A lasting legacy

Edward W. Said, one of the orchestra's founding fathers, was born in Jerusalem and grew up in both Jerusalem and Cairo. He was a significant voice in the global debate on culture and politics and, in addition to his academic work, left a lasting literary legacy. Said often spoke out against injustices in the Middle East and advocated for dialogue between cultures. Despite his tragic passing in 2003, his vision lives on through the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.

Over the years, the orchestra has given numerous significant concerts, including appearances in renowned concert halls worldwide. Rehearsals and performances take place regularly and bring together musicians from different cultural backgrounds. This initiative not only promotes cultural exchange, but also provides a platform for young artists to showcase their talents to a wide audience.

It remains to be seen what musical highlights Lang Lang and Barenboim will present us on August 14th in Lübeck. It is already clear that this event shows once again how important music culture is as a unifying force in our society.

NDR reports that...
The founders of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra explain...
Wikipedia gives an overview of the orchestra...