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）. This exhibition features works of art from Goldberg's collection, which were donated by his wife Miyoko in 2006.

Goldberg and Spain (2)
The Sound of Spain

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of cellist Pablo Casals (1876–1973), who shared a close connection with Szymon Goldberg. To commemorate the occasion, we are pleased to present a three-part series centered on Casals' homeland of Spain, featuring select works of art from Goldberg's personal collection, now housed at The Music Research Center at Tokyo University of the Arts.

In the second installment of the series, we will gather and exhibit items from among Goldberg's estate relating to Spanish music and to musicians of Spanish birth.
In the spring of 1936, the young Goldberg, aged 26, came to Japan with the pianist Lili Kraus (1903–1986), 6 years his senior, and gave recitals in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. The program from that time (on display) included 《Danse Espagnole》 from the opera La Vida breve (Life is Short or The Brief Life) by the Spanish-born composer Manuel de Falla y Matheu (1876–1946), arranged by Fritz Kreisler (1875–1962); as its title suggests, the piece draws on Spanish folk music. By a strange coincidence, a civil war broke out in Spain that same summer. During the war, Falla lost his close friend at the hands of Franco's forces; when that army won in 1939 and established a dictatorship (through 1975), Falla went into exile in Argentina.

Spanish music is alive with the diverse traditions of song, dance, and instrumental music nurtured in each of its regions. Its sound, colored by passion and sorrow, has continued to captivate people far beyond Spain's borders. Goldberg, who lived through such turbulent times, must have encountered this music head on as well. Surrounded by the works of art that Goldberg loved and bequeathed to this museum, we invite you to send your thoughts out to the sound of Spain as played by the musicians who defined the 20th century.