Daniel Barenboim, a well-known Israeli composer and pianist, returns to Qatar for a piano recital at the Katara Cultural Village tomorrow night after his engagements here was cancelled last year.

The Argentina-born composer, who is an outspoken critic of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Territories and co-founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra with late scholar Edward Said, was supposed to perform at the 2nd Katara Music and Dialogue Festival last April. But the three performances, with an orchestra that features both Palestinian and Israeli musicians, were cancelled the week before they were scheduled. 

The cancellation was apparently due to pressure from Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) activists to boycott all Israeli artists. Katara at the time said the festival was cancelled because of “the current political developments across the Arab region.”

Barenboim will this time be performing without his orchestra. He is due to perform Franz Schubert Sonata in C minor, D. 958 and Franz Schubert, Sonata in A Major, D.959 starting from 8pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, at the Katara Opera House. Tickets are still available and start at 200 QR.