Daniel Barenboim

Daniel Barenboim is an Argentine-Israeli-Spanish pianist and conductor, born on November 15, 1942 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is currently the general music director of the Berlin State Opera and the Staatskapelle Berlin. Barenboim has held prestigious positions as Music Director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre de Paris, and La Scala in Milan. He is known for his work with the West–Eastern Divan Orchestra, a Seville-based orchestra that brings together young Arab and Israeli musicians. In addition to his musical achievements, Barenboim is a vocal critic of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

Barenboim has received numerous awards and prizes throughout his career including seven Grammy awards and honorary titles such as Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) and France's Légion d'honneur. He was also awarded Germany's Großes Bundesverdienstkreuz mit Stern und Schulterband. Together with Edward Said, a Palestinian-American scholar, he was honored with Spain's Prince of Asturias Concord Award. Fluent in multiple languages including Spanish, Hebrew, English, French, Italian, and German; Barenboim describes himself as a Spinozist who draws inspiration from Baruch Spinoza's life and philosophy.

Notably influenced by Daniel Barenboim are artists such as Maria João Pires,