Chamber Music Sedona and the Sedona International Film Festival will join Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 4 p.m. for the screening of “I Know I Played Every Note,” a documentary detailing the early career of violinist Itzhak Perlman at the Mary D. Fisher Theater.
The screening will be hosted by Winter Music Festival cellist Nicholas Canellakis and clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein along with CMS artistic director Bert Harclerode.
Indisputably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman enjoys superstar status rarely afforded a classical musician. Perlman is recognized for his humility, sense of humor and down-to-earth qualities as demonstrated during his appearances, online interviews and more. His charm and humanity are cherished by audiences worldwide from Aspen to Flagstaff to Beijing.
Born in Israel in 1945 where he began his music training at the Academy of Music in Tel Aviv, his family moved to New York where the young Itzhak made a life-changing appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1958. His studies at the Juilliard School with Ivan Galamian and Dorothy DeLay helped to establish his worldwide career that has led to performances with nearly every major orchestra and festival around the world.
Perlman fell in love with the sounds of the violin at age 3 and a half but contracted polio a few months later and soon learned that it would be impossible, with his handicap, to pursue a high-level career as a violinist.
“Not only has he [Perlman] succeeded in doing what the world thought quite impossible but he has done it on a level that few have matched,” said cinematographer Christopher Nupen, who captured Perlman’s combination of portrait and performance in his documentary, “Itzhak Perlman, I Know I Played Every Note,” that focuses on the artist with a compelling look at the formative years of one of the most extraordinary musical careers of our time and the triumph of character, talent and tenacity over seemingly insurmountable odds: A must for every classical music fan.
Perlman’s solo performance of “The Theme” on the soundtrack of Steven Spielberg’s film “Schindler’s List” composed by John William’s is one of the most recognized contemporary film scores. Over the years, he has become more actively involved in educational activities teaching at the Perlman Music Program each summer since it was founded and currently holds the Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation Chair at the Juilliard School.
“I’m honored to have worked with Mr. Perlman on several occasions,” Harclerode said. “First in Aspen, and then again at the annual Chamber Music America conference in New York City. Mr. Canellakis, on the other hand, in his series Conversations with Nick, did a recent interview with Perlman, that, tongue-in-cheek, shares a side of Mr. Perlman that not many know — a playful individual whose sense of humor comes alive. Canellakis has engaged other artists of the highest order in his series including Emanuel Ax, Leon Fleisher and the Emerson Quartet — all in good humor. You don’t keep this kind of company unless you’re all in it for fun.”
Nupen said, “If ever there was a story of character and determination triumphing over serious adversity, and producing glorious results along the way, it is the story of Itzhak and Toby Perlman.”
Recently, Perlman was the surprise guest at the matinee performance of “Oh, Hell on Broadway” starring Nick Kroll [Comedy Central’s “Kroll Show”] and John Mulaney [Netflix’s “The Comeback Kid”], on Nov. 26. The appearance marked Perlman’s Broadway theater debut and showcased his comedic talents. He joins other notable guests including Tina Fey, Katie Couric, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Stephen Colbert and Alan Alda who have appeared in the “Too Much Tuna” segment during performances at the Lyceum Theater on Broadway.
“Oh, Hell” stars Kroll and Mulaney as their wildly popular alter egos, Gil Faizon and George St. Geegland — outrageously opinionated, 70-something, native New Yorkers that Kroll and Mulaney first began performing on the alt-comedy stages in New York City. Honed for well over a decade, the duo garnered a cult following as they found their way onto a Comedy Central special, viral videos and late night couches everywhere.
“I Know I Played Every Note” will be shown Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 4 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre, located at 2030 W. SR 89A in West Sedona. Tickets are $9 for Sedona International Film Festival and Chamber Music Sedona members, and $12 for the general public. Tickets may be purchased by calling SIFF at 282-1177 or at sedonafilmfestival.org.
For additional information on the upcoming fourth Sedona Winter Music Festival, being held Tuesday through Sunday, Jan. 3 through 8, visit ChamberMusicSedona.org or call 204-2415.
