Roger Peltzman (born in 1961) is an American pianist,[1] teacher,[2] playwright, actor, and film director[3] based in New York City. He is best known for his one-person play, Dedication, which is about the life of his uncle Norbert Stern, a gifted pianist whose life was tragically cut short by the Nazis at Auschwitz. It’s also about his mother, a Holocaust survivor, and his own second-generation trauma.[4] The film version of the play has been selected and shown by ten film festivals.[5][6] Peltzman recorded a CD of all Chopin selections entitled "Dedication" in 2014 (Astre Recordings).[7]

Life

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Roger Charles Peltzman was born in New York City. As a child, he grew up in Blauvelt NY. The son of Nils Peltzman, a pharmacist and Beatrice (Stern) Peltzman, a social worker and Holocaust survivor. Peltzman showed an early interest in filmmaking and music. He attended the State University of Binghamton where he received degrees in Music and Cinema.[8] There, he studied piano with renowned pedagogue, Seymour Fink. Subsequently he received a Masters Degree in piano performance from Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Zenon Fishbein. After graduating from Manhattan School of Music, Peltzman worked as a recording engineer at the legendary Water Music Recorders in Hoboken, NJ. He also produced critically acclaimed albums such as Lee Feldman's Living It All Wrong Pure/Mercury.[9] In 2002 he joined the faculty of Third Street Music School Settlement.[10]

Playwright and solo performer

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In 2022, Mr. Peltzman first performed his play "Dedication" during a three-week run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, receiving 4 star reviews and critical acclaim.[11] It also won the Derek Award for Best Overseas Play.

Synopis

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Dedication is a 65-minute, one-person performance play that combines monologue, live piano performance, visual imagery, and humor to tell the story of Peltzman's mother's family before the World War II and her harrowing escape from the Nazis who invaded the family's attic where they were hiding. It also relates the tragic journey of his uncle—a gifted piano prodigy—from Brussels to the gas chambers in Auschwitz. As the story unfolds, family photos, letters, and documents are projected onto a screen. Drawn into the story of people he never knew, Peltzman develops a "relationship" with his uncle, Norbert Stern, a brilliant pianist who was murdered in Auschwitz at age 21. Learning that Holocaust trauma can be inherited, Peltzman recounts his coming to terms with second generation survivor trauma and the role of music in helping to manage wounds that will never fully heal. In June of 2023, Dedication had a 3 week run at London's Marlyebone Theatre.[12] Again, the show was a critical success receiving four star reviews. "...remarkable and riveting..." Reviews Hub.[13] ... "An amazing story told with charm, humor, and wisdom" – Spectator.[14] Since then, Dedication has been performed in the US,[15] Brussels,[16] and Berlin.[17] The film version of Dedication is distributed by Menemsha.[18]

"Dedication" recording and concerts

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In 2013, Peltzman recorded a CD of all Chopin works for Astre Recordings.[19] The disc was dedicated to the memory of Norbert Stern, Peltzman's uncle. Stern was a talented pianist who was murdered in Auschwitz at age 21. "Dedication" was recorded at The Brussels Conservatory of Music where Stern performed and won competitions.[20] Peltzman has performed at venues such as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall,[21] Brooklyn Academy of Music, and cutting edge NYC club – (Le) Poisson Rouge.[22]

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References

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  1. ^ "CHOPIN Piano Works". Gramophone. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  2. ^ "The power of music - 19 May 2023 - Pianist Magazine - Readly". gb.readly.com. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  3. ^ "A virtuoso dies young, inspiring his nephew to carry on the legacy". Concord Monitor. 2023-03-15. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  4. ^ Richter, Katrin (2024-02-22). "Widmung an den Onkel". Jüdische Allgemeine (in German). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  5. ^ jewishfilmfests. "Dedication". Jewish Film Festivals. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  6. ^ "Online Program – Ukraine Fringe" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  7. ^ "Roger Peltzman's Chopin Tribute - Classics Today". www.classicstoday.com. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  8. ^ "Binghamton University - Magazine: Robert Frank's beat is the super rich". www.binghamton.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  9. ^ Tribune, Chicago (1998-01-18). "PIANO MAN". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  10. ^ "Third Street Beat: Spring 2014 by Third Street Music School - Issuu". issuu.com. 2014-08-06. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  11. ^ "The Wee Review". theweereview.com. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  12. ^ "Marylebone Theatre | About Us". www.marylebonetheatre.com. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  13. ^ London, The Reviews Hub- (2023-06-10). "Dedication – Marylebone Theatre, London". The Reviews Hub. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  14. ^ Evans, Lloyd (2023-06-14). "Like attending a joyous religious service: We Will Rock You, at the Coliseum, reviewed". The Spectator. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  15. ^ "Maude Adams Theater Hub Catskill Mountain Foundation presents DEDICATION by Roger Peltzman". HudsonValley360. 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  16. ^ "Norbert Stern, door de nazi's vermoorde pianovirtuoos: 'Nog duizend jaar vertellen'". www.bruzz.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  17. ^ "Berlin Bühnen – Event – Dedication". www.berlin-buehnen.de. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  18. ^ "Dedication | Menemsha Films". menemsha. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  19. ^ Mancuso, Christina. "Astre Records to Celebrate the Release of DEDICATION: ROGER PELTZMAN PLAYS CHOPIN with Concert, 1/5". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  20. ^ "Norbert Stern". holocaustmusic.ort.org. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  21. ^ Ann, Leslie AnnLeslie (2014-01-09). "Pianist Roger Peltzman Combines Holocaust History With Beautiful Music in Cooperstown January 11th [Audio]". 92.1 Big Cat. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  22. ^ "Dedication: Roger Peltzman Plays Chopin". LPR. Retrieved 2024-03-26.