Mischa

Mischa Weisbord. The name was once legendary to music lovers throughout Europe. He played for kings, was hailed as ‘the new Paganini,’ and performed in Carnegie Hall and the most prestigious theaters of Europe. Yet when he died in 1991, alone and impoverished in a Brooklyn apartment, his body lay undiscovered for days. He had not performed for decades, and his neighbors knew nothing of his past as a wunderkind violinist, the toast of London and Paris. Who was Mischa Weisbord and why did he die in such obscurity? Director David Vaisbord, Mischa’s nephew, takes us on a personal journey from Russia, through Europe and Israel, to New York City. Through conversations with friends, family and admirers, the mystery of his uncle Mischa is unravelled over time and distance. Mischa explores the phenomenon of the child prodigy, and the complexities of the musical world. As the journey to discover Mischa unfolds, the director pays bittersweet homage to his memory, and reflects on his own childhood in the dark, yet brilliant, shadow of his uncle.

44 minutes

Directed, written and narrated by David Vaisbord ; producer, Jennifer Torrance ; executive producer, Svend-Erik Eriksen ; produced in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ; produced in co-operation with Vision TV.