Spinozists

On stage, the musicians of the Barenboim-Said Akademie in Berlin still play in perfect harmony. But inside, they are reeling. The recent escalation of fighting between Israel and Hamas poses the greatest existential challenge yet for the music academy, founded to build bridges between young Israeli and Arab musicians.

World-renowned conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim said on Jan. 6 he was stepping down as general musical director of Berlin's State Opera due to deteriorating health, marking the end of an era at the fabled institution.

The Israeli government decided on Oct. 23 to allocate millions of dollars for a museum to house the world's largest collection of Albert Einstein documents, the Hebrew University said.

It will be built on the university's Givat Ram campus in Jerusalem, with the government committing to approximately $6 million and the university raising another $12 million.

As the "Guest Artist in Residence" of CSO ADA Ankara, Deutsche Grammophon artist, soprano Mojca Erdmann will meet art lovers in Ankara for the first time. Award-winning Italian pianist Riccardo Bovino will accompany the artist, who is regarded as one of the most impressive voices that Germany has gifted to the international music scene.