Reply To: Polish Film Music?
He did indeed live an eventful life. When the Nazis invaded Poland, the rest of his family headed west and, being Jewish, were murdered in the camps. He headed East and ended up, with Shostakovich’s help, in Moscow.
Stalin jailed him as part of the notorious Doctors’ Plot, and was only released after Stalin’s death. During his incarceration, Shostakovich wrote to Beria – Beria! – demanding his friend’s freedom, a step which could easily have led to his own death.
Musicologist David Fanning wrote a very good biography of Weinberg, “In Search of Freedom”.
Some recommended works:
Symphonies 1, 3, 8, 12
Violin Concerto
Cello Concerto
Sonata no. 5 for piano and violin