“Young Conductor” Daniel Barenboim and a group of veterans

Surprise at the end of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival: the honoree is back on the podium in “Hommage Daniel Barenboim”.

Zubin Mehta claimed that he had discovered a young conductor there after the break: he would now be allowed to stage an overture of Mozart’s “Figaro”, and perhaps he would prove himself. Daniel Barenboim then took to the stage to the cheers of the audience and performed the second part of the long concert in his honor with the Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra. Salzburg state superintendent Cecilia Bartoli had reservations Monday in honor of Barenboim. But a few days ago, the news came that Barenboim’s health did not allow him to perform – and then it happened! Young is close: Mehta (87), Barenboim (80º), plus Placido Domingo (officially 82) plus Sonia Yoncheva (“Butterfly”), Rolando Villazon (“Eugene Onegin”) and Lang Lang (Beethoven’s Little Concerto), relatively For kids, making fans’ hearts beat faster.

Notwithstanding the old man’s famous friendships, it was an evening of strong women: Martha Argerich (nearly 82) shone in Schumann’s Piano Concerto, Bartoli also provided percussion and minute inserts in concert KV 505, for Barenboim had his hands full at the piano. Take back, flowers, cake, standing ovation, wet eyes.