A heartwarming night at the Fiddler’s House
Itzhak Perlman’s vivacious performance shared a resounding message
Itzhak Perlman’s In the Fiddler’s House
Vivo Performing Arts
Conducted by Hankus Netsky
Featuring Itzhak Perlman on violin
Boston Symphony Hall
Feb. 15, 2026
On Feb. 15, Itzhak Perlman performed In the Fiddler’s House at Boston Symphony Hall. As one of the best contemporary virtuoso violinists in the world, Perlman has played at impressive venues such as Barack Obama’s inauguration and the State Dinner for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip; he has also played with impressive musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma and Isaac Stern.
Initially, while trudging to the venue through some mildly disgusting snow, I imagined a traditional classical concert — full symphonies, suit and ties, a conductor on a podium. However, I was soon proven wrong. When the Klezmer Conservatory Band opened the concert with the lively “Bukharester Bulgar,” an unmistakable joy and vitality flowed through the hall. The audience started clapping along — a departure from traditional classical concert norms — and the noise seemingly clouded the music.
However, piece after piece, it became very clear that this was not a typical concert. Music Director Hankus Netsky made many light-hearted jokes and allusions to Jewish culture, setting the scene at Shabbat and a Jewish wedding where the “ceremony manager must make the bride cry and then make everyone dance.” Furthermore, at many points of the concert, Netsky encouraged the audience to clap their hands, stomp their feet, and express the vivacity of the music through their bodies. Any initial hesitation in the audience evaporated, and many joined in on the cheerful celebration.
Witnessing Perlman at work was a privilege, as his technical prowess is unparalleled. The long, winding music never felt stale, despite a general constancy in rhythm. It could have been monotonic or worse, boring, but Perlman and his counterparts kept the music dynamic and engaging. The ensemble — namely Andy Statman on clarinet and mandolin, Frank London on trumpet, and Judy Bressler on vocals — blended seamlessly and created an atmosphere of unmatched jubilance.
The most poignant part of the concert was not the dazzling finale, but rather the “Wedding Medley.” Here, the audience was encouraged to stand up, hold hands, and dance with each other, as one would at an actual wedding. Within five minutes, boundaries shattered and everyone in the concert hall came together. It was a beautiful moment of unity, of connection, of playfulness — qualities that our world seems to lack right now. Perlman and the Klezmer Conservatory paid stunning homage to their Jewish roots while simultaneously reminding us of the beauty of music, joy as resistance, and triumph in celebration and love.