There will be two lectures with author Martin Goldsmith on March 18.
The Kulturbund: German-Jewish Relations During the Third Reich
5303 Dwinelle Hall
Martin Goldsmith is the author of “The Inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany.” Hailed as “a literary journey reminiscent of Art Spiegelman’s in ‘Maus,’” the book tells the riveting story of the Jewish Kulturbund, an all-Jewish performing arts ensemble maintained by the Nazis between 1933 and 1941, an ensemble that included Mr. Goldsmith’s parents. Mr. Goldsmith newest book, part of the “Turning Points” series published by John Wiley & Sons, is called “The Beatles Come to America.”
Martin Goldsmith is also director of classical music programming at XM Satellite Radio in Washington, DC. For ten years, from 1989 to 1999, he served as the host of Performance Today, National Public Radio’s daily classical music program. During Mr. Goldsmith’s tenure as host, PT won the coveted Peabody Award for broadcasting. In September 1998, Mr. Goldsmith was awarded a Cultural Leadership Citation from Yale University “in recognition of service to the cultural life of the nation.” He joined NPR in 1986; before that he worked at member station WETA-FM in Washington, DC, for a dozen years, serving as producer, announcer, music director and, eventually, program director. Martin Goldsmith is also the co-host of “Songs For Aging Children,” a radio program that features music from the great singer-songwriter tradition.
He began his radio career at commercial classical station WCLV in Cleveland, where his mother was a violist in the Cleveland Orchestra. Mr. Goldsmith was born in St. Louis, where his mother spent 21 years as a member of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. A graduate of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, he has sung in the chorus of the Baltimore Opera Company and made a guest appearance with the Washington Opera. He has also acted in many roles in Washington-area theaters, including Arena Stage.
The College Presents: Martin Goldsmith The Inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany Thursday, March 18, 7 p.m. Durham Studio Theater (Dwinelle Hall)
Author Martin Goldsmith will discuss his book, “The Inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany,” with College Executive Dean Ralph J. Hexter. The book recounts the story of Goldsmith’s parents, German-Jewish musicians in the Nazi-sponsored Kulturbund Jewish Cultural Associations orchestra in the 1930s. Their story provides insight into this Nazi propaganda weapon that has been criticized for encouraging Jews to ignore the desperate circumstances outside their own tightly knit and closely controlled community.
Goldsmith is the former host of National Public Radio’s classical music program “Performance Today.” The College Presents is a new series highlighting the intellectual vitality, diversity, and excellence of the College of Letters & Science–UC Berkeley’s liberal arts college–by presenting to the public prominent scholars, scientists, thinkers, artists, and leaders in many fields on topics of broad appeal. The event is free, but seating is limited.