Itzhak Perlman brings his Multi-Media show to Kansas City

Itzhak Perlman performed with 1/16 size violin on his “Evening with Itzhak Perlman” show at the Harriman-Jewell Series in Kansas City on May 11, 2019 (Photo credit: Don Ipock)

A FIDDLER’S LIFE: From Ed Sullivan Show to Helzberg Hall, Perlman Shares Personal Story
By Paul Pattison
KC Arts Beat
May 12, 2019

Tonight, May 11th, was billed as “An Evening With Itzhak Perlman” and that is exactly what it was. The program did not include a list of works to be performed. However, the stage did include a piano and a large screen on which were shown pictures of Mr. Perlman's life as well as photos of him with other eminent musicians. The house lights dimmed a bit and a voice could be heard coming from the on-stage screen. It was Ed Sullivan introducing a young Itzhak Perlman, and onto the stage of Helzberg Hall came the adult Itzhak!

This clever introduction marked the beginning of a clever and fun evening, Mr. Perlman's 12th appearance as part of the Harriman-Jewell Series. We were then entertained with the significant events of his life, starting with his parents' immigrating from Poland to what was then Palestine in the 1930s. Life was not initially easy for his parents in their new country, and when Itzhak was born they lived in a small, one room apartment.

It was in that small apartment that Itzhak chose his career. While listening to the radio as a three-year-old, he heard a violin being played and told his mother that's what he wanted to do. Lessons soon followed until polio struck and he was hospitalized for several months. Fortunately, the polio did not affect his lungs and after rehabilitation he was able to walk with crutches and leg braces.

Through humorous vignettes and old movies, Itzhak took us through his youth, even playing some of the early pieces he learned. These may have been early pieces played by a youth, but they sounded plenty tough to me. He joked that he didn't like to practice and even tried to convince his mother that he was practicing in his mind. This garnered a knowing laugh from the audience.

Mr. Perlman's big break came through American television. The Ed Sullivan show wanted to high-light talent from the new state of Israel, and auditions were held, and of course, Perlman was a finalist and appeared on the show. I undoubtedly saw that episode since my family never missed the Ed Sullivan Show. Studies at Juilliard followed for Perlman and, soon, international recognition.

His wife, Toby, then walked on stage. She told the audience that she heard Itzhak play Ravel's "Tzigane" and decided then and there she couldn't live without him. She went backstage and asked Itzhak to marry him! A few years later they did indeed marry.

I wish Mr. Perlman and his fine accompanist Rohan De Silva had performed "Tzigane," but I was certainly satisfied as I heard them superbly play Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 1 and other favorites. As Mr. Perlman left the stage, his appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show brought the evening to a conclusion.