Daniel Barenboim Will Return to the Podium on December 31

Despite reducing his conducting activities due to ill health, Barenboim will appear at the Berlin State Opera's New Year concerts

The Berlin State Opera announced that their General Music Director, Daniel Barenboim, will be back to conduct their two New Year concerts, despite ongoing problems with his health in 2022.

In October, the Argentine-Israeli pianist and conductor released a statement announcing that he had decided to step back from conducting after he was diagnosed with a serious neurological condition with profound effects on his life. Barenboim had already been forced to withdraw from two concerts that year, both of which also took place at the Berlin State Opera.

Barenboim has been at the helm of the Berlin State Opera since 1992, having previously led the Chicago Symphony, the Orchestre de Paris, and the orchestra of La Scala. Alongside Edward Said, he founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which promotes friendship and collegiality between Israel and the Arab nations.

"We are very happy to announce that Daniel Barenboim will conduct the New Year's concerts, which will take place at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden on December 31, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. and January 1, 2023 at 4:00 p.m," wrote the Berlin State Opera on social media.

"The program includes Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, op. 125, performed by the Staatskapelle Berlin and featuring soloists such as Camilla Nylund (soprano), Marina Prudenskaya (alto) and René Pape (bass). The Staatsoper Chorus (conductor: Martin Wright) will sing."