Early Life and Education of Daniel Barenboim: A Complete Timeline
An overview of the childhood and early education of Daniel Barenboim, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.
Daniel Barenboim is an Argentine-Israeli pianist and conductor, also holding Spanish and Palestinian citizenship. He served as the general music director of the Berlin State Opera and Staatskapellmeister of the Staatskapelle Berlin from 1992 to January 2023. Barenboim is renowned for his contributions to classical music and his efforts to promote peace through music.
November 1942: Born in Buenos Aires
Daniel Barenboim was born in November 1942. He is an Argentine-Israeli classical pianist and conductor.
November 1942: Birth of Daniel Barenboim
Daniel Barenboim was born on 15 November 1942 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Jewish parents, both professional pianists.
1948: Reference to Israeli Declaration of Independence
In May 2004, during his Wolf Prize acceptance speech, Daniel Barenboim referred to the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948, expressing his opinion on the political situation.
1948: Establishment of Israel
Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, Israeli politicians have linked European anti-Semitism to the Palestinian's rejection of the state's founding. Barenboim argued that the Palestinians' primary issue was their expulsion, not anti-Semitism, highlighting that European anti-Semitism predates the partition of Palestine.
1954: Attended Igor Markevitch's conducting classes
In the summer of 1954, Daniel Barenboim took part in Igor Markevitch's conducting classes in Salzburg, where he met Wilhelm Furtwängler.
1955: Studied with Nadia Boulanger
In 1955, Barenboim studied harmony and composition with Nadia Boulanger in Paris.
June 1967: Marriage to Jacqueline du Pré
On 15 June 1967, Daniel Barenboim married British cellist Jacqueline du Pré in Jerusalem.
1967: Performance for Israeli Troops during the Six-Day War
In 1967, at the start of the Six-Day War, Barenboim and Jacqueline du Pré performed for Israeli troops on the front lines, showing their support during the conflict.
1973: Du Pré's retirement
In 1973, Jacqueline du Pré retired from music after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).
1973: Performance for Israeli Troops during Yom Kippur War
In 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, Barenboim and Jacqueline du Pré performed for Israeli troops, demonstrating solidarity during wartime.
1983: Birth of son David Arthur
In 1983, Barenboim and Elena Bashkirova had their first son, David Arthur, born in Paris.
1985: Birth of son Michael
In 1985, Barenboim and Elena Bashkirova had their second son, Michael, born in Paris.
1987: Death of Jacqueline du Pré
Jacqueline du Pré, Daniel Barenboim's wife, died in 1987.
1988: Marriage to Elena Bashkirova
Barenboim and Elena Bashkirova married in 1988, after keeping their relationship hidden from Jacqueline du Pré.
1999: Founding of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra
In 1999, Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said co-founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, bringing together young musicians from Israel, Palestine, and Arab countries to promote understanding and reflection.
1999: Performance at Bir Zeit University
In 1999, Daniel Barenboim performed at Bir Zeit University in the West Bank, marking one of his performances in the Palestinian territories.
2002: Prince of Asturias Awards
In 2002, Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said jointly received the Prince of Asturias Awards for their work in promoting understanding between nations through the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.
2003: Criticism of Israeli Policies
In 2003, Barenboim criticized Israel's actions as "morally abhorrent and strategically wrong," arguing that they endangered the state's existence.
May 2004: Wolf Prize Controversy
In May 2004, Daniel Barenboim was awarded the Wolf Prize at the Israeli Knesset. However, the nomination was initially withheld by Education Minister Livnat until Barenboim addressed his performance of Wagner in Israel, leading to political tensions and a boycott by Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin.
September 2005: Refusal of Interview and Controversy
In September 2005, Daniel Barenboim refused to be interviewed by an Israel Defense Forces Radio reporter in uniform, deeming it insensitive. This led to accusations of anti-Semitism from Israeli Education Minister Limor Livnat.
2005: Edward Said Memorial Lecture: "Wagner, Israel and Palestine"
In 2005, Daniel Barenboim delivered the inaugural Edward Said Memorial Lecture at Columbia University, entitled "Wagner, Israel and Palestine". In his speech, he urged Israel to acknowledge the Palestinian narrative, addressed the issue of anti-Semitism, and controversially linked Israeli actions to the rise of international anti-Semitism.
March 2007: Wagner in Israel: A Politicized Subject
In March 2007, Daniel Barenboim commented that the controversy surrounding Wagner's music in Israel was a symptom of deep-seated issues within Israeli society, indicating that the subject had become overly politicized.
December 2007: Cancelled Gaza Concert
In December 2007, Daniel Barenboim and a group of musicians had to cancel a baroque music concert in Gaza after a Palestinian musician was denied entry at the Israel-Gaza border, leading to a seven-hour wait and a decision to cancel in solidarity.
January 2008: Honorary Palestinian Citizenship
In January 2008, Daniel Barenboim accepted honorary Palestinian citizenship after performing in Ramallah, becoming the first Jewish Israeli to receive this status, intended as a gesture of peace. This decision faced criticism from some Israelis.
January 2009: Cancellation of Concerts in Qatar and Cairo
In January 2009, Daniel Barenboim cancelled two concerts of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in Qatar and Cairo due to escalating violence in Gaza and concerns for the musicians' safety.
2010: Conducting Wagner at La Scala
In 2010, prior to conducting Wagner's Die Walküre at La Scala, Daniel Barenboim argued that Wagner's perception was unfairly tainted by Hitler's admiration for him, advocating for a separation of Wagner's artistic merit from the Nazi association.
May 2011: "Orchestra for Gaza" Concert
In May 2011, Daniel Barenboim conducted the "Orchestra for Gaza" in Gaza City, composed of volunteers from major European orchestras. The concert, coordinated in secret with the UN, marked the first performance by an international classical ensemble in the Gaza Strip and aimed to support the Palestinian cause through non-violence.
July 2012: BBC Proms and Olympic Flag Carrier
In July 2012, Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra played a significant role at the BBC Proms, performing Beethoven's symphonies, coinciding with the London 2012 Olympic Games. He also carried the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony.
2012: Cancellation of Qatar Performance
In 2012, Daniel Barenboim's invitation to the Doha Festival in Qatar with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra was cancelled due to "sensitivity to developments in the Arab world" and accusations of being a Zionist in Arab media.
2012: Criticism of Israel's Wagner Ban
In a 2012 interview with Der Spiegel, Daniel Barenboim expressed his sadness over Israel's continued refusal to allow performances of Wagner's music, viewing it as a symptom of the politicization of Holocaust remembrance. He also disputed the connection between the Holocaust and the Palestinian problem.
November 2014: Advocacy for Two-State Solution
In November 2014, Barenboim advocated for a two-state solution in The Guardian, asserting that Israel's long-term security depends on securing the future of the Palestinian people in their own sovereign state.
2014: Construction Begins on Barenboim–Said Academy
In 2014, construction began on the Barenboim–Said Academy in Berlin, a project developed with Edward Said.
December 2016: Opening of Barenboim–Said Academy
The Barenboim–Said Academy in Berlin opened its doors on 8 December 2016.
2017: Unveiling of Straight-Strung Piano
In 2017, Daniel Barenboim unveiled a new piano featuring straight-strung bass strings, inspired by Liszt's Érard piano. Developed with Chris Maene at Maene Piano, this innovation aimed to provide greater clarity and control over tonal quality.
2017: Opening of the Pierre Boulez Saal
In 2017, the Pierre Boulez Saal opened as the public face of the Barenboim–Said Academy.
October 2022: Reduction of Engagements for Health Reasons
In October 2022, Daniel Barenboim announced he would be reducing his conducting and other engagements for health reasons.
February 2025: Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis
On 6 February 2025, Daniel Barenboim announced he has Parkinson's disease.
