The compelling biography of the violinist who founded the Palestine Symphony Orchestra and saved hundreds of people from Hitler—as seen in Josh Aronson’s documentary Orchestra of Exiles.
“The true artist does not create art as an end in itself. He creates art for human beings. Humanity is the goal.”—Bronislaw Huberman
At fourteen, Bronislaw Huberman played the Brahms Violin Concerto in Vienna— winning high praise from the composer himself, who was there. Instantly famous, Huberman began touring all over the world and received invitations to play for royalty across Europe. But after witnessing the tragedy of World War I, he committed his phenomenal talent and celebrity to aid humanity.
After studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, Huberman joined the ranks of Sigmund Freud and Albert Einstein in calling for peace through the Pan European Movement. But when hope for their noble vision was destroyed by the rise of Nazism, Huberman began a crusade that would become his greatest legacy—the creation, in 1936, of the Palestine Symphony, which twelve years later became the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
In creating this world-level orchestra, Huberman miraculously arranged for the very best Jewish musicians and their families to emigrate from Nazi-threatened territories. His tireless campaigning for the project—including a marathon fundraising concert tour across America—ultimately saved nearly a thousand Jews from the approaching Holocaust. Inviting the great Arturo Toscanini to conduct the orchestra’s first concert, Huberman’s clarion call of art over cruelty was heard around the world. His story contains estraordinary adventures, riches and royalty, politicians and broken promises, losses and triumphs. Against near impossible obstacles, Huberman refused to give up on his dream to create a unique and life-saving orchestra of exiles which was one of the great cultural achievements of the 20th century.
Includes Photographs
“I hate to think what the cultural situation in Israel would be today without the tremendous effort of this great human being who was Bronislaw Huberman.”—Zubin Mehta, Music Director, The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Praise for Josh Aronson’s documentary Orchestra of Exiles
“The remarkable story of the Holocaust-era formation of the Palestine Symphony Orchestra by famed, Polish-born violinist Bronislaw Huberman is engrossingly recounted.”—Los Angeles Times
“It was dangerous to be a good person in central Europe when Hitler was darkening the skies. Orchestra of Exiles salutes one of the people who dared to take that course, Polish violin virtuoso Bronislaw Huberman. In doing so, [it] reminds us that just as we must never forget the darkness, we also must never forget those who refused to let all the light go out.”—New York Daily News
“Orchestra of Exiles will interest anyone who’s concerned with European Jewry or classical music in the first half of the 20th century.”—NPR
“Richly researched...Orchestra of Exiles aspires to a level of primary research that other historical documentaries could take a page from.”—The New York Times
Denise George is an author, teacher, and speaker. She has written or co-written twenty-seven books, including The Secret Holocaust Diaries: The Untold Story of Nonna Bannister; While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age During the Civil Rights Movement; and The Gentle Giant of Dynamite Hill: The Untold Story of Arthur Shores and His Family's Fight for Civil Rights. Her work has been published in numerous magazines, journals, and newspapers. She is married to author Dr. Timothy George and lives in Birmingham, Alabama.
View titles by Denise George
The compelling biography of the violinist who founded the Palestine Symphony Orchestra and saved hundreds of people from Hitler—as seen in Josh Aronson’s documentary Orchestra of Exiles.
“The true artist does not create art as an end in itself. He creates art for human beings. Humanity is the goal.”—Bronislaw Huberman
At fourteen, Bronislaw Huberman played the Brahms Violin Concerto in Vienna— winning high praise from the composer himself, who was there. Instantly famous, Huberman began touring all over the world and received invitations to play for royalty across Europe. But after witnessing the tragedy of World War I, he committed his phenomenal talent and celebrity to aid humanity.
After studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, Huberman joined the ranks of Sigmund Freud and Albert Einstein in calling for peace through the Pan European Movement. But when hope for their noble vision was destroyed by the rise of Nazism, Huberman began a crusade that would become his greatest legacy—the creation, in 1936, of the Palestine Symphony, which twelve years later became the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
In creating this world-level orchestra, Huberman miraculously arranged for the very best Jewish musicians and their families to emigrate from Nazi-threatened territories. His tireless campaigning for the project—including a marathon fundraising concert tour across America—ultimately saved nearly a thousand Jews from the approaching Holocaust. Inviting the great Arturo Toscanini to conduct the orchestra’s first concert, Huberman’s clarion call of art over cruelty was heard around the world. His story contains estraordinary adventures, riches and royalty, politicians and broken promises, losses and triumphs. Against near impossible obstacles, Huberman refused to give up on his dream to create a unique and life-saving orchestra of exiles which was one of the great cultural achievements of the 20th century.
Includes Photographs
Reviews
“I hate to think what the cultural situation in Israel would be today without the tremendous effort of this great human being who was Bronislaw Huberman.”—Zubin Mehta, Music Director, The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Praise for Josh Aronson’s documentary Orchestra of Exiles
“The remarkable story of the Holocaust-era formation of the Palestine Symphony Orchestra by famed, Polish-born violinist Bronislaw Huberman is engrossingly recounted.”—Los Angeles Times
“It was dangerous to be a good person in central Europe when Hitler was darkening the skies. Orchestra of Exiles salutes one of the people who dared to take that course, Polish violin virtuoso Bronislaw Huberman. In doing so, [it] reminds us that just as we must never forget the darkness, we also must never forget those who refused to let all the light go out.”—New York Daily News
“Orchestra of Exiles will interest anyone who’s concerned with European Jewry or classical music in the first half of the 20th century.”—NPR
“Richly researched...Orchestra of Exiles aspires to a level of primary research that other historical documentaries could take a page from.”—The New York Times
Denise George is an author, teacher, and speaker. She has written or co-written twenty-seven books, including The Secret Holocaust Diaries: The Untold Story of Nonna Bannister; While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age During the Civil Rights Movement; and The Gentle Giant of Dynamite Hill: The Untold Story of Arthur Shores and His Family's Fight for Civil Rights. Her work has been published in numerous magazines, journals, and newspapers. She is married to author Dr. Timothy George and lives in Birmingham, Alabama.
View titles by Denise George
