Meet the Filmmaker: Director Josh Aronson
The story of Polish-born Violinist Bronislaw Huberman’s heroic feat of organizing an orchestra comprised of exiled Jewish musicians from Europe in 1936. Initially known as the Palestine Symphony Orchestra (later the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra), it was ultimately conducted by Arturo Toscanini. Cultural pride and the near-certain prospect of his colleagues’ death drove Huberman into becoming something of a savior. The film explores the intertwined manner in which culture is preserved and maintained, and human survival celebrated. 2012, USA/Israel, 85 minutes, documentary
COMMUNITY PARTNER: Nyack Library Carnegie Concert Series in the Carnegie-Farian Room
“Richly researched and partly told by some of today’s top-flight musicians, “Orchestra of Exiles” retraces the world-renowned violinist Bronislaw Huberman’s heroic feat of organizing an orchestra far from the genocidal scourge of the Nazis.” – Nicolas Rapold, The New York Times
“The remarkable story of the Holocaust-era formation of the Palestine Symphony Orchestra by famed, Polish-born violinist Bronislaw Huberman is engrossingly recounted.” – Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times
“Anecdote-rich interviews, including descendants of Huberman’s first orchestra, human testament to the family tree of Israeli musicianship that he planted.” – Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice
“Toscanini plays a role in the tale, as does Einstein and a young Zubin Mehta. If director Josh Aronson tries to follow a few too many strands of the story, it’s only because there’s so many tantalizing ones.” – Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News
