[Cz-L] Czernowitzer Musikverein

I would like to supplement Abraham Kogan's e-message, regarding the
Musikverein and the Mehlplatz.

The venerable Musikvereinsaal was mentioned in an interesting episode in
Artur Rubinstein's Memoirs:

The famous pianist was warned before his first recital during a cold
Winter in Czernowitz that the public there was somewhat conceited and,
indeed, Rubinstein noticed that the applause was quite muted by the
gloves on the hands of his audience. Though he was somewhat nonplussed
by this, by force of habit he returned for a final bow. Miraculously,
thunderous applause greeted him and it did not end until Rubinstein
agreed to play an encore. The applause and encores were repeated several
times, until the Musikverein manager tried to end this by wildly
gesticulating from the isle and threatening to call the police. It
developed that the concert hall was unique in that several exit doors
opened directly to the street and the Czernowitzer public, always in a
hurry, was notorious for rushing out even before a performance ended.
At that point, a large number of musiclovers who could not afford to pay
for tickets but had waited outside rushed in and started the
enthusiastic applause, hoping to be repaid with encores. Rubinstein was
deeply impressed when he found out the truth and promised to give a
special free concert next time for the poor but appreciative
Czernowitzer fans.

The Musikvereinsaal, contrary to Kogan's note, continued to serve the
inhabitants for many decades after WWII. During my visit to Czernowitz
in 1997, I noticed a plaque near the entrance commemorating "the famous
Jewish actress Sidy Tal" who had performed there. Sidy Tal (1912-1983),
the daughter of a Czernowitzer baker became a cultural icon for Soviet
Jews and her funeral in Czernowitz was attended by thousands of mourners
from all over the country. There is an impressive monument on her grave
in the Czernowitzer cemetery.

Finally, the clarification of the location of the Musikvereinsaal,
prompts me to point out that across the street was the infamous
"Strich", where the practitioners of the oldest profession were plying
their trade.

Alfred (Fred) Schneider (b. 1926)
Atlanta, Georgia
Received on 2005-12-23 12:33:03