LINDSAY DEUTSCH Violinist brings a history of success to Brott festival By LEONARD TURNEVICIUS It wasn’t Hollywood that lured violinist Lindsay Deutsch from Texas, but she’s sure made the most of her opportunities in Lotusland. Deutsch and her parents made the move from her native Houston to Los Angeles eight years ago so that she could study the violin. At present, she’s half way through the four-year performance diploma program under Robert Lipsett, who holds the Jascha Heifetz Distinguished Violin Chair at the Colburn School in Los Angeles. “He liked my playing a lot,” says Deutsch over the phone from Los Angeles. So much so that Nimoy has had Deutsch perform at his series each of the last five years. Deutsch has even visited Nimoy’s home. “His house is just one large masterpiece. Basically he has his art everywhere. You’re afraid to move in that place.” For all you Trekkies out there, Deutsch didn’t notice any Star Trek stuff in Nimoy’s digs. “And he wasn’t wearing ‘the ears’ or anything,” laughed Deutsch. Two years ago, Deutsch made headlines when the $850,000 U.S. 1742 Sanctus Seraphin violin and bow on loan from the Mandell Collection of Southern California, was stolen from the back seat of her car while she went into a grocery store for 10 minutes. “It was just a horrible nightmare,” says Deutsch. Nimoy heard of her plight, and rang her to say, “You know, if you need any help, my staff is at your service.” “I was shocked,” says Deutsch of the offer. “He was so helpful and supportive.” Five days after the caper, the violin was returned to Deutsch, and her parents eventually paid out a $10,000 reward to the finder. Deutsch has also performed with the Beverly Hills-based Young Musicians Foundation, and her three Hollywood Bowl appearances were televised on the Disney Channel. From there, she was invited to perform the theme from Schindler’s List at three gala dinners honouring composer John Williams. Though Williams attended only one of those galas, it proved to be a nerve wracking experience for Deutsch. “He was in my line of vision as I was playing,” said Deutsch, “and I felt kind of uncomfortable the whole time. But I think he liked it, and it went over well.” Three years ago, film producers phoned Deutsch and asked her to come and play two pieces for them. She ended up recording one of them, the slow movement of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. That became part of the audio soundtrack used near the end of the 2006 spy flick The Good Shepherd, starring Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, and Robert DeNiro. “I was the first in line to see the film,” said Deutsch, who couldn’t wait to see whether her playing had made the final cut. In case you’re wondering, she never met Matt, Angelina, or Robert. Deutsch also auditioned for producers of the reality TV show For Better Or Worse, who chose her to perform as a violin player at a couple’s wedding reception. In real life, Deutsch was also a racquetball player on the U.S. junior Olympic team. Her sporting career came to an abrupt end when she tore her anterior cruciate ligament during the tie-breaker of a world championship finals match. Though her knee is fine now, she hasn’t played since. And that may be a blessing in disguise. “I’m kind of glad that it’s done,” says Deutsch. “It takes so much time. Training five days a week for a few hours a day as well as playing the violin. I was just involved in too much. Now I can totally focus just on my music.” Boris Brott and Stephen Glass will share the podium duties for the program, which also includes Copland’s Fanfare For The Common Man, highlights from Bernstein’s West Side Story, and Ernest Gold’s music for the 1960 film Exodus. Cantor Gideon Zelermyer from Montreal’s Congregation Shaar Hashomayim will lend his voice to several numbers including Shehecheyanu, and Fiddler On The Roof’s Tradition, and L’Chayim! Showtime |