The recent escalation of fighting between Israel and Hamas poses the greatest existential challenge yet for the music academy, founded to build bridges between young Israeli and Arab musicians.
Palestinian writer Edward Said and Argentine-born Israeli musician Daniel Barenboim , founders of the academy, at the Prince of Asturias Awards Ceremony at the Theater Campoamor in Oviedo, Spain on October 25, 2002. / Photo: AFP Archive
The Barenboim-Said Akademie was born out of a long partnership between Barenboim's father, the Israeli-Argentine pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim, and the Palestinian-American scholar Edward Said, who died in 2003.Students at the school receive a broad musical education but also attend classes in philosophy, history and literature in English.
Israel dramatically ramped up its bombardment after knocking out internet and communication in Gaza on day 22 of its relentless attacks on the besieged enclave. "It is very difficult for many of us to be playing a concert right now. But even in this darkest hour, we will still follow in the footsteps of our founders, Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said," it said .
"There are lots of talks, we are trying to listen. We agree and disagree. It's not very easy," he said. "Many students are constantly on their mobile phones and in contact with their family and friends," said Regula Rapp, rector of the academy.
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