compose his own klezmer 
piece. 
“My dad became an expert 
in Eastern European folk 
dance and Yiddish dance,
” 
the concertmaster explained. 
“I grew up around klezmer 
music. When I studied the 
violin, I also started to learn 
klezmer music. 
“I’ve tried to keep that 
active. A few years ago, I had 
the idea to compose a klezmer 
piece (“Fidi-Fantazye”) for 
concerto. I did that while I 
was in Pittsburgh and since 
then played it all around 
America, Europe and Asia. 
That’s an important side of my 
personal and musical heritage.
“Jewish activities are mostly 
through my musical activities, 
playing Jewish music and 
klezmer music. I do celebrate 
Jewish holidays. I’ve looked up 
to the great Jewish violinists 
of the past — Jascha Heifitz, 
David Oistrakh and Mischa 
Elman.
”
When he is not traveling 
to live audiences or making 
recordings, the violinist likes 

to spend time with family and 
hike. 
“The orchestra and I are 
excited to come back to 
America,
” said the instru-
mentalist, who performed for 
electronic audiences during 
the COVID lockdown. We 
were supposed to come back 
in 2020, but that had to be 
canceled. It’s important to 
us to have the connection to 
American audiences and play 
in the halls. 
“Our new music director 
is Russian Jewish, and it’s 
really an exciting time with 
the orchestra. He’s bringing 
a lot of great ideas and ener-
gy. We’re happy to come to 
America and present that.
” 

Details

The Berlin Philharmonic 
is performing at 8 p.m. 
Friday, Nov. 18, and 8:30 
p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, 
in Hill Auditorium, 825 
N. University, Ann Arbor. 
Tickets start at $25. (734) 
764-2538. ums.org.

Noah 
Bendix-Balgley

Photo: Pari Dukovic

THE DAILY BEAST

TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Detroit Opera House
December 6-18
BroadwayInDetroit.com

Groups (10+) subject: Tina
BroadwayInDetroitGroups
@theambassadors.com 

OC - Sunday
December 11 at 7:30 pm

THE TIN A T URNER MUS IC A L

Mark Morris 
Dance Group 
Presents

SEASON SPONSOR
DetroitOpera.org 

Set to Tchaikovsky’s complete 
original score, performed LIVE 
by the Detroit Opera Orchestra

Sunday matinee includes 
family friendly activities

DETROIT OPERA HOUSE
DEC 3 / 7:30 PM 
DEC 4 / 2:30 PM

The Nutcracker with a twist!

BUY 
NOW!

TICKETS 
START 
AT JUST

$29

NOVEMBER 17 • 2022 | 57