Thursday, August 31, 2017
HIFF 25 OPENS WITH “ITZHAK” (HB ITZHAK!)
HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 5-9 2017
HIFF 25
OPENING NIGHT
ITZHAK
DIRECTED BY ALISON CHERNICK
Itzhak Perlman, born today, 72 years ago on Aug 31, 1945 (Happy Birthday, Itzhak!) is one of the great violinists of all time. He has played and recorded exceptional performances of the violin repertoire masterworks with the great orchestras and greatest chamber musicians of our time.
He is currently planning a performance tour this fall (see below for dates and venues).
It is most appropriate that this film is premiering at HIFF, for Itzhak has long been a resident of the Hamptons and, together with his wife Toby, has established one of the principal music programs for young musicians on Shelter Island.
Photo by Eric Roffman - QPORIT
Note: I had the privilege to meet Itzhak on a few occasions. He graciously listened to my daughter (Sharon Roffman) and gave us some advice when she was quite young. A few years later, when she won the New Jersey student concerto competition, he most generously coached and supported her as she prepared to play the Tchaikovsky violin concerto with the New Jersey Symphony in her solo debut. She participated in the Perlman Music Program in the Hamptons, and she was one of his graduate students when he began teaching at Juilliard. (She is now a soloist, concert-mistress and chamber musician, and the director of ClassNotes). Itzhak also presented a wonderful masterclass at the Thurnauer School of Music for young students, and my wife, (a violin teacher and the director of the Thurnauer School of Music), together with one of her students, appeared in Itzhak’s Emmy winning film, Fiddling for the Future on PBS.
From my perspective, what seems to characterize Itzhak personally, is his pleasant demeanor, his intelligence, his generosity, his ability to make whatever hardships he may be having seem invisible, and his desire to share his ability and love for music with young musicians.
What seems to characterize Itzhak’s music, in addition to his musicianship and virtuosity, is his love of a clean and beautiful rich sound. He heard Menuhin when he was younger, and loved the sound of his violin so much that, later, he made sure to purchase it when it became available. Itzhak plays the Stradivari 1714 Soli that Menuhin had owned.
HAMPTONSFILMFEST.ORG
LINKS – ITZHAK PERLMAN
ITZHAK PERLMAN - WIKIPEDIA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itzhak_Perlman
ITZHAK PERLMAN - IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0674221/
PERLMAN MUSIC PROGRAM
https://perlmanmusicprogram.org/
ITZHAK PERLMAN FALL 2017 TOUR
https://www.eventticketscenter.com/search?kwds=ITZHAK+PERLMAN
LINKS – THE FILM
ITZHAK - IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6186232
Alison Chernick is a filmmaker, with documentary films on artists Jeff Koons and Roy Lichtenstein, filmmaker Pedro Almodovar, artist/filmmaker Julian Schnabel, ... And many other films of many different types. Her films have been seen at the Tribeca and Berlin film festivals.
ALISON CHERNICK - IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1212650
OTHER LINKS
SHARON ROFFMAN
Sharonroffman.com
http://www.classnotesinfo.org/
THURNAUER SCHOOL OF MUSIC
http://www.jccotp.org/thurnauer
Labels: Alison Chernick, Hamptons International Film Festival, HIFF, HIFF25, ITZHAK, Itzhak Perlman, Perlman Music Program
