Rudolph Barshai: The Note (2013)

Oleg Dorman directs this profile of the Russian conductor and viola virtuoso. Initially finding fame as a member of the acclaimed Moscow Philharmonic Quartet that played at the funerals of both Stalin and Prokofiev, Barshai enjoyed even greater success later in life,when he formed the Moscow Chamber Orchestra in the late 1950's. In 1977, however, and still unable to play works that were banned in the former Soviet Union, Barshai decided to emigrate to Israel where he began work with the Israel Chamber Orchestra.