HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIEL BARENBOIM!

Daniel Barenboim recently celebrated his 70th birthday (November 15, 2012), and shows no signs of slowing down as pianist, opera or concert conductor. He recently conducted Wagner's Lohengrin at La Scala to open the season there, and will soon lead the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra on an American tour with several all-Beethoven programmes.  For more on Barenboim's activities visit his website at www.danielbarenboim.com.

In an unusual video conductor Simon Rattle made a rare appearance as a pianist wishing Barenboim Happy Birthday on behalf of the Berlin Philharmonic, and with the cooperation of American bass Willard White. Incidentally, Rattle has just announced that he will be stepping down as music director of the BPO in 2018.

Paul E. Robinson