The film looks beyond the 16-time Grammy-winning musician to see the polio survivor whose parents emigrated from Poland to Israel, and the young man who struggled to be taken seriously as a music student when schools saw only his disability.
Watch here - video expires on November 11th!
In the film, Perlman’s life story unfolds through conversations with fellow musicians and friends, including Billy Joel, Alan Alda, pianist Martha Argerich, cellist Mischa Maisky, and his wife of 50 years, Toby. The Perlmans dedicate their lives to their large Jewish family in New York City, shared love for music and continual support of young musicians. American Masters: Itzhak is a portrait of musical virtuosity that explores themes of Jewish identity, Jewish history, humor and love.
Four alumni of the Shelter Island Perlman Music Program who are featured in the film are performing at Music at Bunker Hillon Sunday, November 25 at 3 PM in Sewell, NJ.
Rachel Lee Priday, violin; William Frampton, viola; Jia Kim, cello; and David Kaplan, piano will be performing piano quartets of Beethoven and Fauré. And the three string players will also be playing Dohnányi's Serenade in C Major. They have occasional reunions with Itzhak Perlman on Shelter Island; they are taking this entire program to Shelter Island after the Music at Bunker Hill concert.