This past weekend, Richmond, VA’s historic Carpenter Theater, built in 1926, was ablaze with back-to-back performances by Itzhak Perlman.
The legendary violinist has been a long-standing advocate for accessibility after being diagnosed with polio. I chose to seek employment working for Mr. Perlman after experiencing Luther Vandross‘s difficulties using a wheelchair after suffering a stroke due to mismanaged type 2 diabetes.
I discuss finding Luther after his stroke in the Luther: Never Too Much documentary, which will be released on streaming platforms in January 2025.
I decided that if I returned to personal assistant work, I would prefer to work with an entertainer who requires my help beyond picking out the green M&Ms from a bowl in the dressing room. Mr. Perlman’s ongoing issues related to accessibility in travel and hotel accommodations piqued my interest. Helping a legendary performer of Mr. Perlman’s stature do what they love, like performing live for an audience, brings me joy.
His first performance, “Cinema Serenade,” featured film scores by John Williams, Ennio Morricone, and Erich Wolfgang Korngold.
Valentina Peleggi conducted this survey of cinema’s most moving melodies from iconic films such as Casablanca, Cinema Paradiso, Out of Africa, and many others.
Sunday’s “Afternoon with Itzhak Perlman” had the legendary violinist sharing childhood memories, telling jokes, and recalling career highlights interspersed between musical selections encompassing his phenomenal career. Itzhak Perlman’s back-to-back performances closed the Richmond Symphony‘s spectacular Strad Fest.