Musical nachas from a kid sister

By Eileen Wingard

Eileen Wingard
Eileen Wingard

SAN DIEGO — After Attorney Randy Schoenberg’s recent talk at UCSD, I approached him to offer my sister Zina Schiff’s recent recording of his maternal grandfather, Eric Zeisl’s Brandeis Violin Sonata. “Oh, I already have it,” he responded, with a smile. “I listen to it all the time, it is so beautiful.”

I kept the CD, but shared my memories of his grandfather, Eric Zeisl. I encountered the Austrian immigrant composer when we were both at the Brandeis Camp Institute in 1951, I as a student, Zeisl, as the composer-in-residence. After he heard me play my violin, he gave me the music to Menuchim’s Song from his opera, Job.  When Zina, at the urging of one of her teachers and mentors, Israel Baker, made plans to record Zeisl’s Brandeis Sonata, I gave her my copy of Menuchim’s Song. She liked the piece and decided to use it as the opening work on her MSR Classics CD, Violin Sonatas, Zeisl/Copland.

Although this, her most recent recording, has received international praise, Zina never anticipated that it would have a connection with the highly acclaimed docudrama, still being shown at movie theaters, Woman in Gold. Those who have seen the film will remember that Randy Schoenberg, paternal grandson of the great Austrian composer, Arnold Schoenberg, and maternal grandson of the less famous Austrian composer, Eric Zeisl, is the young lawyer who takes on the case for Maria Altmann to retrieve her family’s Nazi-stolen paintings by Gustav Klimt, including Woman in Gold. Randy agreed to have Maria Altmann as his client because she was his Grandmother Zeisl’s best friend. The case went all the way up to the US Supreme Court and back to Vienna. Against all odds, Randy successfully won verdicts in Maria Altmann’s favor.

He continues to specialize in retrieving Nazi-stolen art for its rightful owners.  Upon winning the Altmann case, he made a large donation to the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles, which facilitated the construction of its current home near the Beverly-Fairfax area.

Meanwhile, Zina garnered rave reviews for her MSR Classics CD featuring sonatas by Zeisl and Copland and shorter works by Bloch, Dauber and Zeisl performed with Cameron Grant, piano soloist with the New York City Ballet.

The following are some of the many comments:

MusicWeb International selected it as Recording of the Month and described it as, “A disc of great beauty and emotion….The Brandeis Sonata alternates between angst and heartbreak, spiritual yearning and riotous joy……This is a powerful and thought-provoking work, in which the Jewish character comes to the fore brilliantly….The performances by Schiff and Cameron Grant are first rate and they are captured in quite a natural and well-balanced acoustic.”

The Classical Reviewer: “Excellent performances from violinist Zina Schiff and pianist Cameron Grant of works by Eric Zeisl, Aaon Copland, Ernest Bloch and Robert Dauber on a new release from MSR…The first work on this new disc by Eric Zeisl is Menuchim’s Song. A short piece, it has an impassioned opening for the violin over a firm piano accompaniment before the theme is varied with a rather Jewish feel, finely played by Zina Schiff and Cameron Grant.  A really lovely piece. Sonata Brandeis,.. Schiff brings some passionate phrases, a lovely rise and fall, brilliantly accompanied by Grant. These two really have the measure of this music…the music is full of Jewish inflections…..There is some breathtaking playing in this fine performance.”

Music & Vision homepage\: “Schiff has developed as fair and sweet an approximation of her Olympian mentor as one may reasonably expect… California violinist Schiff is one of few active Heifetz students. She toured extensively.”

American Record Guide: “I have loved every recording I have heard by Schiff and Grant, but this one is particularly special because it introduced me to the music of Zeisl.”

Gapplegate Classical Review: “played with genuine idiomatic musicality by Schiff and Grant.  It is refreshing, delightful music that rings true and gives great pleasure.  I do recommend this one heartily.”

International Record Review: “(Schiff) clearly shares (Heifetz’) stunning technique and passionate style…these works are all splendidly dispatched.”

Fanfare: “Throughout the program …Schiff produces a lush tone that’s commanding in declamation and insinuating in meditation, and Grant serves as a sympathetic collaborator.’’ The duo’s program deserves a strong recommendation.”

Earlier this month, I was in the Boston area and attended the concert at Merrimack College in North Andover where Zina was soloist with the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra,playing Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto #2, with her daughter, Avlana Eisenberg, on the podium. The performance was unbelievably beautiful. Zina continues to thrill audiences with her musical passion and brilliance. Her fourteenth recording, featuring the Brandeis Violin Sonata, even pleased Randy Schoenberg, the grandson of Eric Zeisl.

*
Wingard is a freelance writer and retired violinist for the San Diego Symphony.  You may comment directly to her at eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com or post your comment on this website provided that the rules below are observed.

__________________________________________________________________
Care to comment?  We require the following information on any letter for publication: 1) Your full name 2) Your city and state (or country) of residence. Letters lacking such information will be automatically deleted. San Diego Jewish World is intended as a forum for the entire Jewish community, whatever your political leanings. Letters may be posted below provided they are responsive to the article that prompted them, and civil in their tone.  Ad hominem attacks against any religion, country, gender, race, sexual orientation, or physical disability will not be considered for publication. There is a limit of one letter per writer on any given day.
__________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

1 thought on “Musical nachas from a kid sister”

  1. The following was received from actress/ pianist Mona Golabek:

    Eileen

    what a beautiful article…and I am so thrilled for Zina and the incredible responses to her amazing artistry.

    love
    Mona

Comments are closed.