Ven Ich Volt Geven A Shnaider.avi

Sidor Belarsky, master singer of the Jewish people, was born Isidor Livshitz in Kryzhopol, Ukraine, 1898. He graduated from the State Conservatory in Leningrad, and soon became a leading basso at the Leningrad State Opera Company. In his song recitals from coast to coast and as a soloist with eminent conductors such as Arturo Toscanini, Fritz Busch, Arturo Rodzinksi, his success was overwhelming. In opera, as well, Sidor Belarsky, was triumphantly received. He was leading basso of The Chicago Civic Opera Company, the San Francisco Opera Company, The American Opera Company Of Los Angeles, the New York City Center Company, Teatro Municipal in Rio De Janeiro and Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.

One of his many concerts in Moscow was attended by a large group of American visitors, including, Dr. Franklin S. Harris, President of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Dr. Harris, impressed with the power and beauty of Belarsky's voice, asked him to join his faculty as professor of music.

On February 8, 1930, Belarsky finally arrived in New York on the Aquitania with his wife Clarunia and his only child, Isabel, age 9. For his daughter, Isabel, he wrote the song "Ven Ich Volt Geven A Shnaider". In this song a young man sings to his tiny daughter, "If I were a tailor, I would sew a regal gown for you. If I were a goldsmith, I would make a beautiful golden wedding ring for you. If I were a garner, I would plant the prettiest flowers for you. Being only a singer, I will sing my songs of love to you."

His daughter has made it her life's mission to preserve her father's name and music since his death in 1975,
making sure that her father's work including this great tribute would not be forgotten. "My father's uncle had a turkey business in Utah and arranged for him to come and teach singing at Brigham Young University," says his daughter Isabel, who now lives in Brooklyn's "Little Russia" neighborhood of Brighton Beach.

"He sang opera in San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York," Isabel continues. "Then Toscanini heard him and he sang Fidelio on NBC Radio." He also performed with other eminent conductors and orchestras throughout the world, and gave over 22 solo concerts at Carnegie Hall between 1931 and 1961. After singing at an event where Albert Einstein was the guest speaker, Einstein insisted that Belarsky sing at all his speaking engagements. "They became great friends and Einstein took him everywhere," says Isabel. "Little by little he sang the Yiddish, Hebrew and Russian Jewish songs that he knew from childhood, and he became very popular with the Jewish community."

Isabel Belarsky's apartment overlooking the Atlantic Ocean is filled with her father's recordings, photographs and other memorabilia. At this time, however, she's most proud of an expanding file of press clippings that make mention of her father's contribution to A Serious Man. She gives the Coens complete credit for choosing her father's music. "They opened a new life for me," she says, her eyes moistening. "Nobody really picked up on it like they did—from that one song. To me it's a miracle!"

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• Sidor Belarsky
• basso
• Opera
• Isabel Belarsky
• yiddish
• jewish
• dr. dj verbena
• laftrproject.org
• cantor naomi hirsch