Description
Object description
Austrian Jewish schoolchild in Vienna, 1926-1938; emigrated to GB, 5/1938; career as composer, conductor and pianist in GB, 1945-1997.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in Vienna, Austria, 1926-1938: family background and childhood story of father setting up Phaidon Press, 1923; religious upbringing as orthodox Jew; father's friendship with Viennese intellectuals; started to learn piano age eight; mother's family background; story of father helping poor woman to buy bread; attitude to poverty; further comments on Phaidon Press; education; attitude to religious segregation in school; problem of anti-Semitism and bullying; reaction to rise of Hitler and Nazis; description of train journey to Merano, Italy, 15/Mar/1938; joined father in Switzerland.
REEL 2 Continues: description of train journey with sister to Antwerp, Belgium; reason for having own passport; attitude to leaving Vienna; comparison of Viennese and British police; story of publisher Stanley Unwin sponsoring journey to GB, May/1938. Aspects of period in GB, 1938-1945: attended Regents Park boarding school for refugee children in London; parents lived in Hampstead; father's publishing firm taken over by Allen and Unwin; learned English while in Antwerp; recreational activities; comparison of different areas of settlement for Jewish refugees in London; attitude to assimilation; reason for moving to Oxford; various memories of prominent members of Jewish community; story of father being interned and role of Stanley Unwin in securing release after four hours, 1940; story about father's secretary at Phaidon Press; description of period as pupil at City of Oxford High School for Boys
REEL 3 Continues: further description of period at City of Oxford High School for Boys; taught piano by George Woodhouse; musical activities; story of studying music at New College Oxford and drawing and painting at Ruskin School of Art; earned money by painting portraits; increasing importance of music in life; opinion of Egon Wellesz. Aspects of period in GB, 1945-1997: studied at Royal College of Music in London, 1945-1947; lived in Hampstead; reaction to death of father; role as music director with Old Vic in Bristol; problem of feeling alienated as Jewish refugee; style of composition and musical influences; effect of Hitler and Nazi regime on life and musical career; description of work with touring opera company; attitude to financial security; opinion of cultural life in GB; story about Donald Swann.