The Jewish Refugee Musicians who Created the Palestine Orchestra

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra started as the Palestine Symphony Orchestra when violinist Bronisław Huberman took Jewish musicians fired from their jobs by the Nazis and brought them to the Land of Israel. Learn about classical music during wartime including the dramatic Isaac Stern performance during a Gulf War Iraqi missile attack as the audience donned gas masks.

Plus the stories of composer Paul Ben-Haim, pianist Pnina Salzman, conductor Zubin Mehta and a young Leonard Bernstein.

Zubin Mehta conducting the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra with violinist Isaac Stern in the Sinai for IDF soldiers during the Yom Kippur War, October 17, 1973. Credit: Moshe Grossman, Israeli Government Press Office.

Credit: Central Zionist Archives

Credit: Central Zionist Archives

Pnina Salzman “well-known to the Palestinian public” performs the works of Paul Ben-Haim.

Arturo Toscanini conducting the Palestine Symphony Orchestra, Tel Aviv, 1936.

The Eretz Yisrael Orchestra (called in English the Palestine Orchestra) performing for Allied troops during the Holocaust.

A 30-year-old Leonard Bernstein travelled from the United States to conduct the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in Beersheba during the War of Independence, November 20, 1948. Credit: Hugo Mendelson, GPO

NOTES:

• The Palestine Orchestra - Central Zionist Archives rare photos

• The Israel Symphony Orchestra - Jewish Virtual Library

• Music conductor Zubin Mehta retires after 50 years, takes final bow with Israeli orchestra - Economic Times, India

• Zubin Mehta talks about his ‘lasting marriage’ to the Israel Philharmonic - Chicago Tribune

• As Isaac Stern Fiddles, Another Missile Fizzles - Gulf War performance - JTA, 1991

• War didn’t Silence Israel Philharmonic - Gulf War, 1991 - Chicago Tribune

• Isaac Stern plays at the Jerusalem Theater in the Gulf War - video

• How Isaac Stern elevated beauty over fear - Baltimore Sun

• Mehta’s Detour to Israel--to Show Support : Gulf War: Conductor unexpectedly went to Tel Aviv because ‘the urgency of what was happening compelled’ him to do so - LA Times, 1991

• Shining a light on the Holocaust saga of Bronislaw Huberman - JTA

• Toscanini to Lead Palestine Symphony Orchestra - JTA, 1936

• Palestine Symphony Orchestra Mapes 1,000th Concert; 200 Given Before Armed Forces - JTA, 1944

• Biography of Israeli Pianist Pnina Salzman - Playbill

• Bridging Germany and Israel, Paul Ben-Haim

• Paul Ben-Haim biography - Milken Archive