 Conductor Barenboim became a Spanish national four years ago |
Pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim has given a peace concert in Madrid, in support of the victims of the current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. His multi-faith West-Eastern Divan Orchestra played Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in front of some 6,000 people in the Spanish capital's Plaza Mayor.
The Argentine-born musician said there had been some "savage brutality".
In the past two years, he has also arranged concerts for victims of the bombings in Madrid and London.
Reconciliation
This event had been dubbed Music Against Violence and featured 42 Israeli musicians and 26 Arabs, some of whom came from Lebanon and Syria.
But the Europa Press news agency reported that a dozen of the orchestra members were unable to attend because of the fighting.
The group played its first concert in 1999, having been founded by Barenboim and late Palestinian author Edward Said.
They had the intention of encouraging friendship between Palestinians and Israelis, and received the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord in 2002 for promoting reconciliation in this way.
The concert was attended by Mr Said's widow, and by the mayor of Madrid, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon.
One-Minute World News 
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