Daniel Barenboim Withdraws from the Berliner Phil’s Europakonzert in Georgia

Barenboim, who has faced a number of health issues in recent years, will be replaced by Daniel Harding

Conductor Daniel Barenboim, who in 2022 was diagnosed with a serious neurological condition, has withdrawn from his upcoming appearances with the Berliner Philharmoniker. These include the Europakonzert in Tsinandali, Georgia, as well as the concert at the Tbilisi Paliashvili Opera and Ballet State Theatre on 2 May, and the concerts on April 26 and 27 at the Philharmonie Berlin.

He will be replaced by British conductor Daniel Harding, who has had close ties with the Berliner Philharmoniker since his debut in 1996. Harding performs with the orchestra each season on subscription in Berlin, and this will be the second Europakonzert he has conducted, following an appearance at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris in 2019.

Harding will conduct the advertised program, which includes works by Schubert, Brahms, and Beethoven, and features Lisa Batiashvili as violin soloist.

Barenboim has had to step away from a few of his performances in the last few years — including standing down from his position as the general music director of the Berlin State Opera, and canceling a North American tour with the Staatskapelle Berlin.

"I deeply regret that for health reasons I have to withdraw from the Europakonzert in Tsinandali, the concert in Tbilisi and the concerts planned in Berlin with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Lisa Batiashvili," Barenboim said in a statement. "I hope my colleagues have fantastic concerts and that I will be able to meet the wonderful Georgian audience for the first time on another occasion."