Goldberg the conductor

Szymon Goldberg (1909-1993) was a Polish-born Jewish violinist and conductor who experienced two world wars, and lived through the turbulent 20th century until his death in Toyama（1909－1993）. He was also an accomplished conductor. This exhibition features works of art from Goldberg's collection, which were donated by his wife Miyoko in 2006.

In 1955, Goldberg founded the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra at the request of the Dutch government, and remained its music director, permanent conductor, and soloist for 22 years until his resignation in 1977. Goldberg's training was rigorous, but his manner was not overbearing, and he took the lead in setting an example for the importance of a serious attitude toward music and practice. According to former members of the Orchestra, “He was constantly studying scores while on the road, even on tours. He was the first to start practicing when we arrived at our destination, and he was also the last to finish.”  　(from Yamane miyoko, Szymon Goldberg: A Giant of the 20th Century, 2009, p. 116)

Goldberg served as a guest conductor with many renowned orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among others, and has captivated the world with his music. The regular concert of the Mito Chamber Orchestra on April 11th, 1993, when he took the podium as conductor, was the last performance of his life.This exhibition features photographs, sheet music, and other valuable materials that remember Goldberg as a conductor. Surrounded by the works of art that added a touch of flair to the daily life of Goldberg   and his wife, visitors can try following in the footsteps of this revered conductor.

* We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Szymon Goldberg Collection of the Center for Music Research, Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts for their generous cooperation in lending us their materials for this exhibition.