Christoph Eschenbach and the Israel Philharmonic

Christoph Eschenbach was in Israel last week for concerts with the Israel Philharmonic. But his first rehearsal was interrupted by an air raid alarm and the musicians were forced to move to a shelter as soon as possible. As a child Eschenbach had suffered through World War II - his parents were killed and he grew up with a foster mother - and now here he was again in the middle of a war. Hamas was firing missiles into Israel from Gaza, and Israel was bombing Hamas targets in Gaza. Fortunately, a cease fire was worked out with the help of Egypt and the United States, and the concerts went on as planned. This video interview was made during the rehearsals last week. Eschenbach talks about his early life and about music as a force for peace.

 Paul E. Robinson

The Berlin Philharmonic in Australia

The Berlin Philharmonic recently made its first-ever appearances in Australia. In this video they are shown in rehearsal at the Sydney Opera House under music director Simon Rattle playing music by Brahms and Berg. The Berlin Philharmonic may be one of the world's oldest and most venerated orchestras but it has also been surprisingly open to new ideas. With Rattle in charge the orchestra regularly plays a huge amount of contemporary music and is incredibly innovative in its education programming. While orchestras everywhere are struggling to hold subscribers and attract new audiences the Berlin Philharmonic has been adapting nicely to changing demographics and technologies.

Paul E. Robinson

Sir Georg Solti: 100th Anniversary

Sir Georg Solti was born October 21, 1912. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth he should be remembered as one of the greatest conductors of his generation. He was dynamic and exacting in the Toscanini tradition but mellowed in his later years. He made many fine recordings including the first-ever complete Ring cycle. He did not create the Chicago Symphony Orchestra but he presided over its golden years. In this video from 1978 he conducts the CSO in Rossini's La Gazza Ladra Overture. This is a slight work, you might say, for a great conductor. But seldom will you hear such a precise and exciting performance. As always when Sir Georg was on the podium the CSO players are galvanized to give of their considerable best. Notice particularly the contribution of trombonist Jay Friedman.

If you want to see and hear more Rossini from Solti and the CSO, and lots of other terrific performances besides, look for the 4-DVD boxed set called Sir Georg Solti: the Maestro issued by Decca (074 3203).

Paul E. Robinson

David Oistrakh Plays Debussy

In the 1950s there were two violinists who set the standard for all others: Jascha Heifetz and David Oistrakh (1908-1974). Of course there were other fine violinists too but Heifetz and Oistrakh were almost in a class by themselves. They had an authority, a command of style, a sound and a charisma that set them apart. Since he spent most of his career in the United States Heifetz was better known and more likely to be seen and heard in North American concert halls. He also had a recording contract with RCA Victor.

For his part, Oistrakh was a victim of the Cold War. He lived in the Soviet Union through the Stalin Years and he was seldom allowed to travel to the West. His first concert in the West was given in Helsinki in 1945, and his first concert in the United States in 1955 at the age of 47.

Oistrakh was renowned and revered for his performances of the Tchaikovsky concerto and both Shostakovich concertos are dedicated to him. But he was an extraordinarily cultivated musician. He often played chamber music and made many fine chamber music recordings. In later years he became a much-admired conductor. In this video made in Paris in 1962 he plays Debussy's Clair de lune with exquisite tone and phrasing.

Paul E. Robinson