‘ITZHAK’, a documentary centered around multi-talented musician Itzhak Perlman, will open in New York March 9th and roll out nationwide. The film, directed by Alison Chernick and presented by Greenwich Entertainment, is also scheduled to be released nationwide at a later date.

From Shubert to Strauss, Bach to Brahms, Mozart to…Billy Joel, Itzhak Perlman’s violin playing transcends mere performance to evoke the celebrations and struggles of real life; “praying with the violin,” says renowned Tel Aviv violinmaker Amnon Weinstein. Alison Chernick’s enchanting documentary looks beyond the sublime musician to see the polio survivor whose parents emigrated from Poland to Israel, and the young man who struggled to be taken seriously as a music student when schools saw only his disability. Itzhak himself is funny, irreverent and self-deprecating, and here his life story unspools in conversations with masterful musicians, family and friends, and most endearingly his devoted wife of 50 years, Toby. Itzhak and Toby’s lives are dedicated to their large, loving, Jewish family in NYC and their continual support of young musicians

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It’s the opening scene of the documentary “Itzhak” and is an exhibition of what will unfold: the story of the gifted and active musician, the devoted husband and family man, the philanthropist, the sensitive teacher, the good friend, the humble humanitarian, and the man proud of his Jewish heritage.

This is a celebration of his life’ as reported by Vicki Leopold for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

In this movie of top-notch clarity and acoustics, we see Itzhak and Toby, his wife, in their Manhattan apartment and their New York City life. We also see Tel Aviv, his home, and pieces of his performances around the world.

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(Atlanta Jewish Film Festival screenings: Jan. 27, 1 p.m., Hollywood; Jan. 30, 7:20 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 2, 1:35 p.m., Hollywood; Feb. 4, 8:30 p.m., Springs; Feb. 10, 8:35 p.m., Tara)

The NW Film Center’s Reel Music Festival features plenty of films that should perk up the ears of music junkies as reported by Robert Ham from the The Portland Mercury. The highlight for this writer is Itzhak (screening Sun Jan 14), a portrait of violin maestro Itzhak Perlman that will air later this year on American Masters. Free of stodgy narration and edited in an almost stream-of-consciousness fashion, director Alison Chernick’s loving film works in glimpses of the classical music exemplar’s sizable ego (watch him slyly find a way to get a solo during rehearsals for a guest appearance at one of Billy Joel’s Madison Square Garden shows), but the strongest impression that comes across is Perlman’s impressive generosity, as seen in his work with a new generation of musicians.

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It’s the middle of Hanukkah when we talk, but beloved violinist and music icon Itzhak Perlman is working.

Speaking by phone from his New York City home, the Israeli-born star is about to leave for the 2½-week winter residency at the Perlman Music Program in Sarasota, Fla. Then he’ll head to Los Angeles, where he’ll be both soloist and conductor with the L.A. Philharmonic at Disney Hall for performances Jan. 11 through 13. The program includes a work by Brahms, his “early-childhood falling-in-love-with” favorite composer.

“Itzhak,” a recent documentary on the multiple Grammy and Emmy winner, has its California premiere this week at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and runs on PBS’ American Masters next year.

Perlman, engaging as ever at 72, spoke about being the subject of a documentary (twice), why listening is the essential skill needed for playing and conducting, and why YouTube sometimes moves him to tears. READ MORE

For 17 days at the end of each year, the world’s greatest living concert violinist makes his home in Sarasota.

But Itzhak Perlman doesn’t leave New York behind to sit on a beach. It’s not a vacation. He comes here to teach young musicians during the Perlman Music Program Sarasota Winter Residency.

With a resume that includes 16 Grammys, four Emmys, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Kennedy Center Honor, the 72-year-old Israeli-American icon is always in demand for concert performances. He’s played for presidents, heads of state and the Queen of England.

The thing is, he loves working with students.

“When you teach somebody else, you teach yourself,” Perlman tells Creative Loafing (CL). “And I always tell the kids, never miss an opportunity to teach, on any level. Because it really helps you with your own music-making.”

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Reprinted from the article by reporter, Bill Deyoung for the Creative Loafing Tampa Bay website.