Over the course of his long career, Daniel Barenboim has participated in numerous fascinating cultural and political discourses: between East and West, Arabs and Israelis, Wagnerians and Holocaust survivors. In this three-part documentary, we accompany Barenboim on his exploration of the social meaning of music. Filmed conversations with celebrated colleagues like Pierre Boulez, Joschka Fischer, and Richard von Weizsäcker provide depth and context for interviews with the great artist himself. We also see Barenboim in the act as he becomes a UN Messenger of Peace, works with the West-Eastern-Divan-Orchestra, and conducts the Cairo Symphony Orchestra for the very first time.

In Musical Approaches, part two of the Crossing Borders documentary, Barenboim asks how one can best approach the musical art. How does an orchestral score come to life? How can one touch both audience members and orchestral musicians? An intimate view into Barenboim’s understanding of music and musical sound.

Photo: Daniel Barenboim with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in Pilas, Andalusia © ACCENTUS Music