Divan

Last week Daniel Barenboim and his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra were back at the Proms. How on earth did the orchestra get such a silly name? The Penguin Cafe Orchestra is a silly name too.

It’s all quite straightforward if you know that a Divan is not something for lounging on; it is an English translation of Diwan and a Diwan in Muslim cultures is a collection of poems by one author.

West-östlicher Diwan is a collection of lyrical poems by Goethe inspired by the poetry of a 14th century Persian poet, Hafez.

The work can be seen as a symbol for a stimulating exchange and mixture between Orient and Occident. The phrase “west–eastern” refers not only to an exchange between Germany and the Middle East, but also between Latin and Persian cultures, as well as the Christian and Muslim cultures. The twelve books consist of poetry of all different kinds: parables, historical allusions, pieces of invective, politically or religiously inclined poetry mirroring the attempt to bring together Orient and Occident. (Wikipedia)

This is what Barenboim and his orchestra are about although Daniel moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform. The programme included the London Premier of Looking for Palestine, a monodrama inspired by a play, Palestine. The composer describes the main character’s reaction to the Lebanon war in 2006. It seemed to me less conciliatory and more like picking at a scab.

However, the rest of the programme was much more enjoyable – nobody would have come otherwise. A violin concerto by Tchaikovsky and Scriabin’s, The Poem of Ecstasy. Another Prom this week – including a World Premier, oh dear.