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L'orchestra degli esuli
At fourteen, Bronislaw Huberman played the Brahms Violin Concerto in Vienna, winning high praise from the composer himself. 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 ultimately saved nearly a thousand Jews from the approaching Holocaust.
368 pages, ebook
Published January 15, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 19, 2016
Let me begin by saying what Bronislaw Huberman accomplished is nothing short of amazing, and the story of how it was done is fascinating. The writing of this book leaves a lot to be desired. Every moment seems to scratch at the surface of whatever is going on. This may stem from the fact that the vast majority of the authors' references are websites rather than primary material. The whole book seems rather piecemeal.
The biggest problem I have is the dialogue. We all understand that history is largely recorded as events, not word for word conversation. We get that dialogue gets created to tell the story. But seariously, if you're going to put words into someone's mouth, make it interesting. Most of the conversations were so paired down that you wonder if it the story was helped or hurt by the interaction. It's the same treatment writers use when adding dialogue to Bible scenes; always to much or to little, and it never comes across as two real people talking to each other.
You should read about Huberman, and his orchestra. You just need to find a different book than this one.
The biggest problem I have is the dialogue. We all understand that history is largely recorded as events, not word for word conversation. We get that dialogue gets created to tell the story. But seariously, if you're going to put words into someone's mouth, make it interesting. Most of the conversations were so paired down that you wonder if it the story was helped or hurt by the interaction. It's the same treatment writers use when adding dialogue to Bible scenes; always to much or to little, and it never comes across as two real people talking to each other.
You should read about Huberman, and his orchestra. You just need to find a different book than this one.
January 27, 2017
I love the cover of this book---very dramatic with its string of barbed wire and Bronislaw Huberman playing his violin. I probably would have picked it up even if one of its authors, Josh Aronson, hadn’t had a book signing at the St. Louis Public Library. His presentation was wonderful.
I had never heard of Huberman until that night in January 2017. Aronson’s description of the great violinist birth reverberated in my soul. It seems that the elder Mr. Huberman had always dreamed of being a violinist. When his dream was thwarted, he decided that one of his sons would play. Immediately after Bronislaw’s death, his father looked at his hands and declared him a violinist.
Beginning when the lad was five or six years old, his childhood ended. His father demanded that he practice four to five hours a day. Luckily from him, Bronislaw was a prodigy. Be the time he was 14, he was playing concert stages around the world to great applause. He was making the money that his father demanded.
Bronislaw was a quirky, sickly little dude, but that didn’t stop his father from pushing him, and pushing him, and pushing him. Abuse takes many forms, and Bronislaw endured the verbal attacks of his father. But this is more than just a tale of child. It’s the story of how being that driven created its own dreams.
I think Bronislaw was a tad psychic. He felt that the Great War would happen and was sure that another one would occur. As he watched Adolph Hitler ascend in Germany, he keenly felt the upcoming horrors Hitler would impose on the Jews. Interestingly, Bronislaw considered himself first a violinists, second a Pole, and third a Jew.
As he watched Hitler deconstruct Germany’s culture. He vowed to create an orchestra in Palestine, a place where Jews were fleeing to at such an alarming rate that the world should have noticed that something evil was occurring in Germany.
Bronislaw worked tirelessly to get money, certificates, a rehearsal hall, and the musicians Hitler had fired get out of Germany. He pushed himself on world tours, speeches; he would do whatever it took to get someone to listen. He pushed himself to the brink of a breakdown several times before December 26, 1936, when the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra played its first concert in Tel Aviv, conducted by Maestro Arturo Toscanini.
One thing I didn't understand was how the number 1,000 wsa chosen. On opening night of the IPO, there were 71 musicians who had abandoned Nazi Germany. Not sure how the authors arrived at that figure, but Orchestra of Exiles: The Story of Bronislaw Huberman. The Israel Philharmonic, and the One Thousand Jews He Saved from Nazi Horrors is fascinating look at a story that had been largely forgotten, but shouldn’t be. This work receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
I had never heard of Huberman until that night in January 2017. Aronson’s description of the great violinist birth reverberated in my soul. It seems that the elder Mr. Huberman had always dreamed of being a violinist. When his dream was thwarted, he decided that one of his sons would play. Immediately after Bronislaw’s death, his father looked at his hands and declared him a violinist.
Beginning when the lad was five or six years old, his childhood ended. His father demanded that he practice four to five hours a day. Luckily from him, Bronislaw was a prodigy. Be the time he was 14, he was playing concert stages around the world to great applause. He was making the money that his father demanded.
Bronislaw was a quirky, sickly little dude, but that didn’t stop his father from pushing him, and pushing him, and pushing him. Abuse takes many forms, and Bronislaw endured the verbal attacks of his father. But this is more than just a tale of child. It’s the story of how being that driven created its own dreams.
I think Bronislaw was a tad psychic. He felt that the Great War would happen and was sure that another one would occur. As he watched Adolph Hitler ascend in Germany, he keenly felt the upcoming horrors Hitler would impose on the Jews. Interestingly, Bronislaw considered himself first a violinists, second a Pole, and third a Jew.
As he watched Hitler deconstruct Germany’s culture. He vowed to create an orchestra in Palestine, a place where Jews were fleeing to at such an alarming rate that the world should have noticed that something evil was occurring in Germany.
Bronislaw worked tirelessly to get money, certificates, a rehearsal hall, and the musicians Hitler had fired get out of Germany. He pushed himself on world tours, speeches; he would do whatever it took to get someone to listen. He pushed himself to the brink of a breakdown several times before December 26, 1936, when the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra played its first concert in Tel Aviv, conducted by Maestro Arturo Toscanini.
One thing I didn't understand was how the number 1,000 wsa chosen. On opening night of the IPO, there were 71 musicians who had abandoned Nazi Germany. Not sure how the authors arrived at that figure, but Orchestra of Exiles: The Story of Bronislaw Huberman. The Israel Philharmonic, and the One Thousand Jews He Saved from Nazi Horrors is fascinating look at a story that had been largely forgotten, but shouldn’t be. This work receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
December 13, 2016
An amazing book! Its the story of Bronislaw Huberman, a violinist and child prodigy who saved over a thousand Jewish musicians from perishing in the holocaust by getting them out of Germany and Europe to Israel to start the then called Palestine Philharmonic Orchestra which later became the IPO.
His story begins in Poland, where he was born to poor Jewish peasants. Once the child exhibited musical talent, his father drove him to become an acclaimed prodigy. The book follows Broni's career as he achieved great success in the world of music including the bestowal of a Stradivarius violin by the emperor as well as his love affairs and the painful history of Europe during the First World War and its aftermath. As anger in distress mounted in Germany, Broni began to realize the potential application of his talent, wealth, and contacts to try to relieve some of the suffering that surrounded him
Huberman, hearing that over 8,000 Jewish musicians have been fired from their jobs, is deeply disturbed. He takes a trip to British Mandate Palestine and is impressed by the rigor and love of music he finds in the settlements. Deeply moved, he lights upon the idea of creating a world-class orchestra of Jewish musicians in the Holy Land. He begins to audition players, raises money, reconstructs a concert hall, and secures permission for his group to enter Palestine.
Though a large number of gifted Jewish musicians refused to leave Germany with their families to go to Palestine certain that the terrifying anti-Semitism of the Nazis would soon blow over, Huberman did eventually triumph with a grand opening concert conducted by the great Toscanini of what would become the Israel Philharmonic, one of the greatest ensembles of the world.
I began this book knowing nothing of Bronislaw Huberman. I ended this book wanting more. More about his life, and the thousands of lives he saved. Orchestra of Exiles is the history of many well known and many unknown Jewish musicians. All of whom have Bronislaw Huberman to thank for their lives and those of their families. I can highly recommend this book and 5 stars from me
His story begins in Poland, where he was born to poor Jewish peasants. Once the child exhibited musical talent, his father drove him to become an acclaimed prodigy. The book follows Broni's career as he achieved great success in the world of music including the bestowal of a Stradivarius violin by the emperor as well as his love affairs and the painful history of Europe during the First World War and its aftermath. As anger in distress mounted in Germany, Broni began to realize the potential application of his talent, wealth, and contacts to try to relieve some of the suffering that surrounded him
Huberman, hearing that over 8,000 Jewish musicians have been fired from their jobs, is deeply disturbed. He takes a trip to British Mandate Palestine and is impressed by the rigor and love of music he finds in the settlements. Deeply moved, he lights upon the idea of creating a world-class orchestra of Jewish musicians in the Holy Land. He begins to audition players, raises money, reconstructs a concert hall, and secures permission for his group to enter Palestine.
Though a large number of gifted Jewish musicians refused to leave Germany with their families to go to Palestine certain that the terrifying anti-Semitism of the Nazis would soon blow over, Huberman did eventually triumph with a grand opening concert conducted by the great Toscanini of what would become the Israel Philharmonic, one of the greatest ensembles of the world.
I began this book knowing nothing of Bronislaw Huberman. I ended this book wanting more. More about his life, and the thousands of lives he saved. Orchestra of Exiles is the history of many well known and many unknown Jewish musicians. All of whom have Bronislaw Huberman to thank for their lives and those of their families. I can highly recommend this book and 5 stars from me
July 19, 2016
The story is amazing, as are the cast of characters. I loved if for the history, and for providing me with information about which I was unaware. The story of the history draws in the reader, and the short chapters makes it for easy and quick reading. I could not put it down.
However, this non-fiction history book reads more like a novel. There is no way that the multitudes of conversations in the book are real; every single conversation uttered by every person sounds exactly the same. There are many pages of notes, but most of the sources are from the Internet. It may be fine to use only Internet sources for a research paper, but a respectable work of history requires deeper research.
However, this non-fiction history book reads more like a novel. There is no way that the multitudes of conversations in the book are real; every single conversation uttered by every person sounds exactly the same. There are many pages of notes, but most of the sources are from the Internet. It may be fine to use only Internet sources for a research paper, but a respectable work of history requires deeper research.
November 9, 2016
I loved the story of Bronislaw Huberman, Polish Jew who was a child prodigy violinist who went on to worldwide acclaim as the violinist of his, or many, generations. His dream of establishing a world class orchestra in Israel to save German Jews from the horrors of Hitler and to bring culture and beauty to the newly establishing state of Israel becomes the story.
My criticism is the way this book is written. It seems to be more of a research paper than a composed book, heavily footnoted, short chapters, etc. Although, I did enjoy the chapter introductions which Included short quotes from characters in the book.
Overall, definitely a worthwhile read.
My criticism is the way this book is written. It seems to be more of a research paper than a composed book, heavily footnoted, short chapters, etc. Although, I did enjoy the chapter introductions which Included short quotes from characters in the book.
Overall, definitely a worthwhile read.
September 26, 2016
What a fabulous story! Although some conversations seem a bit contrived, I like how they served to humanize the characters. I flew through this engaging read, and I'm anxious to look up some YouTube references suggested in the notes.
December 30, 2016
I thought this book was boring. The story is amazing.
January 27, 2023
I just finished The Rosendorf Quartet by Nathan Shaman which was a fictionalized account of four musicians chosen for the Israel Symphony Orchestra. On to the back-story and how Huberman was obsessed with creating Israel's first symphony par excellence. I did not read about Huberman's life until he became a violinist in Berlin and began his lifework of creating the orchestra. What he did, how he did it, the help he got, the traveling everywhere to raise money (In the US 60 concerts in 80 days) and he was the draw.
May 12, 2018
Wonderful recount of a passionate humanitarian
The recount of Huberman's life was fascinating. Aronson brought to life the development of such a passionate violinist and humanitarian. Well worth the read.
The recount of Huberman's life was fascinating. Aronson brought to life the development of such a passionate violinist and humanitarian. Well worth the read.
February 25, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed. His story fills some of the many gaps of my knowledge of this horrible time in history. My love of music and participating in making music with many just made it all the more interesting. Well worth the time to read.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews