______________ 'A beautifully poised series of dialogues about literature, music and politics, and they're a testimony to the enormous gifts and courage of both men' - Tom Paulin, Guardian 'A marvellous eavesdrop on the discourse of exchange between two great intellects' - Nadine Gordimer, TLS 'An extraordinary meeting of minds in troubled times' - Financial Times 'A fascinating exchange of ideas on music, politics and literature' - Classic FM Magazine ______________ Israeli Daniel Barenboim, one of the finest musicians of our times, and Palestinian Edward Said, eminent literary critic and leading expert on the Middle East, were close friends for years. Parallels and Paradoxes is a series of discussions between the two friends about music, politics, literature and society. Barenboim and Said talk about, among other subjects, the differences between writing prose and music; the compromising politician versus the uncompromising artist; Beethoven as the ultimate sonata composer, Wagner (Barenboim is considered by many to be the greatest living conductor of his work); great teachers; and the power of culture to transcend national differences. Illuminating and deeply moving, Parallels and Paradoxes is an affectionate and impassioned exchange of ideas.

Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin in this 2010 performance of Mahler's Ninth Symphony.

A memoir by the master pianist, conductor and internationalist Daniel Barenboim - 'the closest thing that classical music can offer to Nelson Mandela' [THE TIMES] 'The power of music lies in is its ability to speak to all aspects of the human being-the animal, the emotional, the intellectual, and the spiritual. Music teaches us, in short, that everything is connected' Daniel Barenboim's new book vividly describes his lifelong pursuit of knowledge and understanding, not only of music and of life, but of one through the other.

Pierre Boulez conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and pianist Daniel Barenboim in this opening concert from the Salzburg Festival of 2008. Featured works include Ravel's 'Valses nobles et sentimentales', Bartok's 'Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No.1' and Stravinsky's 'Firebird Suite'.

This highly esteemed 1976 recording of Saint-Saens "Organ" Symphony remains one of the finest available. Daniel Barenboim takes a joyous celebratory approach to this massive work, achieving an overall warmth and immediacy few conductors have matched before or since. Organist Gaston Litaize is clearly equally inspired, delivering a rousing extraordinarily memorable finale. Deutsche Grammophon's exceptionally clear detailed sound is quite good as well.

In this eloquent book, Daniel Barenboim draws on his profound and uniquely influential engagement with music to argue for its central importance in our everyday lives. While we may sometimes think of personal, social and political issues as existing independently of each other, Barenboim shows how music teaches that this is impossible. Turning to his intense involvement with Palestine, he examines the transformative power of music in the world, from his own performances of Wagner in Israel and his foundation, with Edward Said, of the internationally acclaimed West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Music Quickens Time reveals how the sheer power and eloquence of music offers us a way to explore and shed light on the way in which we live, and to illuminate and resolve some of the most intractable issues of our time.

Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin in this live performance of Tchaikovsky's ballet, featuring choreography by Patrice Bart. The festive story follows a young girl whose nutcracker doll, given to her by her uncle, comes to life at the stroke of midnight. The cast includes Nadja Saidakova, Vladimir Malakhov and Oliver Matz. Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin.

Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin in these performances of Bruckner's Symphonies Nos. 4-9, recorded at the Berlin Philharmonie in June 2010.

Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin in this performance of Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 in C Minor, recorded at the Berlin Philharmonie in June 2010.

Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin in this performance of Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 6 in A major, recorded at the Berliner Philharmonie in 2010.

Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin in this performance of Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 6 in A major, recorded at the Berliner Philharmonie in 2010.

Daniel Barenboim leads the Staatskapelle Berlin in this performance of Bruckner's Symphony No. 4, recorded live at the Philharmonie Berlin on 20th June 2010.

Daniel Barenboim leads the Staatskapelle Berlin in this performance of Bruckner's Symphony No. 4, recorded live at the Philharmonie Berlin on 20th June 2010.

Daniel Barenboim leads the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, made up of young musicians from the Middle-East, in a selection of works by Mozart, Beethoven, Schoenberg and Tchaikovsky recorded at the Salzburg Festival in 2007.

Daniel Barenboim conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker in this concert featuring selections by Brahms, Wagner and Elgar, recorded live at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, in 2010.

Bringing together young musicians from Palestine, Israel and other countries of the Middle East, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is both one of the most acclaimed youth orchestras in the world and a rare note of hope in a war-torn region. Founded by Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said in 1999, it aims to promote Arab-Israeli understanding through music. In An Orchestra Beyond Borders, Elena Cheah, a professional musician and assistant to Daniel Barenboim, explores the orchestra's journey through the remarkable stories of the musicians that comprise it. These youthful testimonies are a window into the life of the region. Together, they communicate the musicians' ambitions and hopes, their varied and conflicting views on life and politics, and above all the orchestra's transformative ability to create an atmosphere of musical cooperation away from the implications and hardships of a world full of division and conflict.

Daniel Barenboim leads the Berlin Philharmonic in this selection of popular classics recorded live at the Philharmonie Berlin, on New Years Eve, 2001.

Director Guy Cassiers sets his Ring cycle firmly in the present, in this production premiered at La Scala in May 2010. With Daniel Barenboim at the podium, René Pape, Stephan Rügamer, Johannes Martin Kränzle and Anna Larsson lead an all-star cast.

Director Guy Cassiers sets his Ring cycle firmly in the present, in this production premiered at La Scala in May 2010. With Daniel Barenboim at the podium, René Pape, Stephan Rügamer, Johannes Martin Kränzle and Anna Larsson lead an all-star cast.

Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin in this production of Rimsky-Korsakov's opera, recorded at the Schiller Theater in 2013. The cast includes Olga Peretyatko, Anita Rachvelishvili, Johannes Martin Kränzle and Tobias Schabel.