Classical conductor tangos into 2007

Argentinian-born conductor Daniel Barenboim rang in the new year in his homeland with a concert of tangos.

Israeli and Palestinian ambassadors sat side by side at the free outdoor concert held at the foot of Buenos Aires's famous obelisk.

Their show of unity was a tribute to Barenboim, a prominent advocate for peace in the Middle East.

Barenboim, an Israeli citizen, was co-founder, along with a Palestinian friend, of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, an ensemble of young Israeli and Arab musicians.

Conductor of the Berlin Staatsoper opera house, former director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor at La Scala opera house in Milan, he is usually associated with a classical repertoire.

But in conducting the Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra New Year's Eve, Barenboim chose a program of popular tangos.

"I'm happy with this repertoire of tangos since I prefer a concert of music that can be widely understood," he said.

The tango isBuenos Aires's signature musical style, and an audience of 10,000 cheered classics such as El dia que me quieras (The Day You Love Me), Mi Buenos Aires querido (My Beloved Buenos Aires) and Cuesta abajo (Going Downhill).