Veniamin Iosifovich Fleishman, (russian: Вениами́н Ио́сифович Фле́йшман, July 20, 1913 in

Bezhetsk Bezhetsk (russian: Бе́жецк) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, town and the administrative center of Bezhetsky District in Tver Oblast, Russia, located on the Mologa River at its confluence with the Ostrechina. Population: 29 ...

, Tver Governorate – September 14, 1941 in Krasnoye Selo,

Leningrad Oblast Leningrad Oblast ( rus, Ленинградская область, Leningradskaya oblast’, lʲɪnʲɪnˈgratskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ, , ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). It was established on 1 August 1927, a ...

) was a Soviet composer.

''Rothschild's Violin''

While studying under

Dmitri Shostakovich Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich, , group=n (9 August 1975) was a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist who became internationally known after the premiere of his Symphony No. 1 (Shostakovich), First Symphony in 1926 and was regarded throug ...

at the Leningrad Conservatory (1939–1941), he began a one-act opera ''

Rothschild's Violin "Rothschild's Violin" (russian: Скрипка Ротшильда, translit=Skripka Rotshilda – also translated as "Rothschild's Fiddle") is a short story by Anton Chekhov. Publication "Rothschild's Violin" was first published in ''Russkiye Ved ...

'' based on

Anton Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; 29 January 1860 Old Style date 17 January. – 15 July 1904 Old Style date 2 July.) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career ...

's short story of the same name about Bronza, a Russian country coffin-maker and violinist, and his combative relationship with the Jewish musicians in his village. At the outbreak of World War II, Fleishman volunteered for the front and was killed before he could complete the work. In memory of his talented student, Shostakovich rescued the manuscript from besieged Leningrad, finished it and orchestrated it in 1943–1944. Shostakovich dated his completion of the score February 5, 1944. Later, he exerted influence so that the opera should be published and performed. The opera's world premiere concert performance took place on June 20, 1960, at the USSR Union of Soviet Composers, Moscow, with the soloists and members of the Moscow Philharmonic Society. The opera was first staged in April 1968, Leningrad, at the Experimental Studio of Chamber Opera. The artistic director was Solomon Volkov, and the conductor

Yuri Kochnev Yuri Leonidovich Kochnev (Юрий Леонидович Кочнев) (b. Simferopol, 26 February 1942) is a Russian conductor. Kochnev was born in Simferopol and from the age of seven grew up in Vologda. At 15 he entered the Children's School of ...

.Volkov, Solomon. "Letter from Solomon Volkov." '' Tempo'', New Series 207 (December 1998): 55.

Quotations

*"...my student Veniamin Fleishman wrote an opera based on Chekhov's ''Rothschild's Violin''. I suggested that he do an opera on the subject. Fleishman was a sensitive spirit and he had a fine rapport with Chekhov. But he had a hard life. Fleishman had a tendency to write sad music rather than happy music, and naturally, he was abused for it. Fleishman sketched out the opera but then he volunteered for the army. He was killed. He went into the People's Volunteer Guard. They were all candidates for corpsehood..." (

, '' Testimony'', p. 225'') *"I'm happy that I managed to complete ''Rothschild's Violin'' and orchestrate it. It's a marvellous opera – sensitive and sad. There are no cheap effects in it; it is wise and very Chekhovian. I'm sorry that theatres pass over Fleishman's opera. It's certainly not the fault of the music, as far as I can see." (Dmitri Shostakovich, ''Testimony'', p. 225'')

Recordings

*Veniamin Fleishman: ''

'' with

Sergei Leiferkus Sergei Leiferkus (born 4 April 1946) is an operatic baritone from Russia, known for his dramatic technique and powerful voice particularly in Russian and Italian language repertoire. He is most notable for his roles as Scarpia in ''Tosca'', Ia ...

, Konstantin Pluzhnikov, Ilya Levinsky, Marina Shaguch,

Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (RPhO; nl, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest) is a Dutch symphony orchestra based in Rotterdam. Its primary venue is the concert hall De Doelen. The RPhO is considered one of the Netherlands' two principal orc ...

, Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, RCA Red Seal 09026 68434-2

References

External links

''Rothschild's Violin''

Boosey & Hawkes Boosey & Hawkes is a British music publisher purported to be the largest specialist classical music publisher in the world. Until 2003, it was also a major manufacturer of brass, string and woodwind musical instruments. Formed in 1930 throu ...

]
"My Shostakovich"
by Dmitri N. Smirnov * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fleishman, Veniamin 1913 births 1941 deaths People from Bezhetsk People from Bezhetsky Uyezd Russian Jews Jewish classical composers Male opera composers Jewish opera composers Soviet opera composers Soviet Jews in the military Soviet military personnel killed in World War II