The famed Violins of Hope have been featured in books, print, film and television around the world and now in a new stage production, which was adapted from the original filmed play of the same name. The film, popular with diverse audiences, was presented at the United Nations in 2021 to commemorate Kristallnacht. In 2022 playwright Ronda Spinak, founder and artistic director of The Braid, the largest independent Jewish theatre in the US, came to Sydney following the LA premiere, to workshop the play with Moira Blumenthal Productions.
Musicians who perished at the hands of the Nazi regime cannot speak anymore, but their violins give voice to their stories. The families are gone, but their violins will speak for them for generations to come.
The violinist who cannot bear to play the violin of her murdered Jewish friend but wants her to be remembered…The railway worker who rescued a violin thrown from a train bound for a concentration camp and after the war, honours its owner’s last wish….the father who calls his violin “Friend’ because playing it for food saved his family from starvation….The waltz that saved a violinist from execution. The boy whose violin is his avenging weapon against the Nazis.
“Every performance of Violins of Hope is a monument to a boy, a girl, a man, a woman who cannot speak anymore. It reminds us that as long as the song of a violin can be heard, there is a reason to have hope”, says the leading character, Amnon Weinstein.
Famous violinists who’ve had close ties with the Violins of Hope include Pinchas Zukerman, Itzhak Perlman, Shlomo Mintz, Hagai Shaham, Daniel Hope, Niv Ashkenazi (who has a Violin of Hope on permanent loan from the Weinsteins, which he played in the original filmed version of the play). They have been played by The Berlin Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Israel Philharmonic, members of the Berlin Philharmonic and in concerts all over the world.
STORIES FROM THE VIOLINS OF HOPE is presented by Moira Blumenthal Productions and Shalom, is written by Lisa Pearl Rosenbaum & Ronda Spinak, with Set Design by Tom Bannerman and Costume Design by Andrea Tam and direction by Moira Blumenthal. The cast includes actors Barry French, Laurence Coy, Kate Bookallil, Sophie Gregg and Lloyd Allison-Young. Live music is curated for the play by Dr Noreen Green, founder and conductor of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, with Ben Adler or Leo Novikov performing live on violin and Dr Noreen Green or Ben Burton live on piano.
Interwoven with live music, the production dramatises the true story of one family of luthiers, the Weinsteins, who rescued, restored and brought to the world stringed instruments that survived the Holocaust.
STORIES FROM THE VIOLINS OF HOPE is a moving and powerful new play which will have its World Premiere at Bondi Pavilion. The exciting three week season starts May 31,
The exciting three week season of STORIES FROM THE VIOLINS OF HOPE starts May 31, 2023. Bookings
Sydney Arts Guide has ten double passes to give away to the performance on Thursday June 1 at 11am with running time 90 mins. To enter the promotion to win one of the double passes:
In the subject heading write VIOLINS OF HOPE PROMOTION.
Winners will be advised by email.
Featured photo – Barry French, one of Sydney’s finest dramatic actors, plays Amnon Weinstein