Book excerpt: A LIFE IN MUSIC reviws five decades of the rich and uniquely varied musical life of Daniel Barenboim. A child prodigy as a pianist and a virtuoso conductor of symphonics and operas, Barenhoim has known and worked with many of the most distinguished and exciting musicians of the 20th century, including Rubinstein, Furtwangler, Zubin Meta, Pierre Boulez, Fisher-Diskau, Pablo Casals, and not least his wife, Jacqueline du Pre. Recent years have included his work at the annual Wagner festival Bayreuth; in Berlin at the rebirth of the State Opera House; taking over from George Solti's 22-year regin in Chicago; his summer festival in Weimar, Germany, where young Arabs and Israelis can play music together; and his worldwide travels. Barenboim has revised and updated his memoir, giving us trenchant thoughts on Israel today, the problems facing young musicians, and the changing world of music at the beginning of the 21st century. -One of the world's greatest musicians, Barenboim has a dedicated following who will be interested in reading about his life in his own words. -Barenboim was married to celebrated cellist Jacqueline du Pre, the subject of the controversial film Hilary and Jackie. -His championship of peaceful coexistence with Palestinians is highly controversial, as is his insistence on playing Wagner in Israel.