Every summer the training part, West-Easter Divan Workshop, takes place in Sevilla for several weeks and after that study period, the international concert tour of the Orchestra begins.

It was created in 1999 by two friends from different cultural backgrounds, conductor-pianist Daniel Barenboim and the academic Edward Said. The particular name of the Orchestra is based on  the collection of lyrical poems (diwan) "West-östlicher Divan" (West-Eastern Diwan) by Johan Wolfgang von Goethe. Goethe himself was inspired by Hafez, the Persian poet.

For more detailed information concerning, history, participation, concerts and other activities, see website.