Orchestra of Exiles

Product Description

A Film by Academy Award© Nominated Director Josh Aronson. The thrilling story of how one man helped save Europe s premiere Jewish musicians from obliteration by the Nazis.

In the early 1930's Hitler began firing Jewish musicians across Europe. Overcoming extraordinary obstacles, violinist Bronislaw Huberman moved these great musicians to Palestine and formed a symphony that would become the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. With courage, resourcefulness and an entourage of allies including Arturo Toscanini and Albert Einstein, Huberman saved nearly 1000 Jews - and guaranteed the survival of Europe s musical heritage.

Featuring commentary by musical greats including Itzhak Perlman, Zubin Mehta and Joshua Bell, Orchestra of Exiles is a timeless tale of a brilliant young man coming of age, and the suspenseful chronicle of how his efforts impacted cultural history.

Review

Richly researched and partly told by some of today's top-flight musicians, 'Orchestra of Exiles' aspires to a level of primary research that other historical documentaries could take a page from. --The New York Times

Illuminates humanity's darkest period from a fresh perspective while delivering the story of an astonishing hero little known in America. --Huffington Post

Humane and inspiring. Aronson intersperses voice-over narration and period newsreel footage and photography with a sometimes delightful, always thoughtful, occasionally humorous series of talking heads consisting of the cream of the concert world. The commentary provided by these witnesses amplifies our sense of Huberman's place in the classical firmament while also placing his work of cultural rescue in its moral and political dimension. All this, and a rich array of great music deployed as soundtrack. A nearly forgotten figure has been resurrected, his humanitarian and professional achievements given proper due. I defy you to leave with a dry eye. --Allen Ellenzweig, The Forward

Illuminates humanity's darkest period from a fresh perspective while delivering the story of an astonishing hero little known in America. --Huffington Post

Humane and inspiring. Aronson intersperses voice-over narration and period newsreel footage and photography with a sometimes delightful, always thoughtful, occasionally humorous series of talking heads consisting of the cream of the concert world. The commentary provided by these witnesses amplifies our sense of Huberman's place in the classical firmament while also placing his work of cultural rescue in its moral and political dimension. All this, and a rich array of great music deployed as soundtrack. A nearly forgotten figure has been resurrected, his humanitarian and professional achievements given proper due. I defy you to leave with a dry eye. --Allen Ellenzweig, The Forward