Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
Folks, Claire is going to be out of the loop for a while. Her grandmother passed away yesterday, and she and her family have her affairs to sort out. Here is a brief biography of Sina Berlinski that was on Wikipedia at one point, and here is an interview with her regarding her late husband, the composer Herman Berlinski.
Sina Berlinski (née Goldfein) (Leipzig, Germany, 27 August 1910) is an American pianist, piano teacher and voice coach, now in retirement.
Her husband was the late Herman Berlinski (1910—2001), a composer, organist, pianist, musicologist and choir conductor. Her son, David (born 1942), is a philosopher, educator and author of fiction and non-fiction; and has two grandchildren, Mischa Berlinski, a novelist and Claire Berlinski, a novelist, biographer, freelance journalist and travel writer.
Sina Goldfein was born in Leipzig of Jewish parents in 1910, attended the Orthodox Jewish Ephraim Carlebach School and then commenced music studies at the Leipzig Conservatory in 1927.
There she developed sound keyboard skills under the direction of Robert Teichmüller and her long-interest in lieder was enhanced by recitals and teaching by leading mezzo-soprano Elena Gerhardt, then head of the conservatory's singing department. Later she was auditioned and became a member of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Choirunder the directorship of Karl Straube. There she had the experience of singing memorable works such as J.S. Bach's St Matthew Passion and the Mass in B Minor, and Beethoven's "Choral" Symphony. As a result of her experience, she developed a strong interest in chamber music, song and accompaniment, and this was to shape later the direction of her professional career.
In 1933, as the National Socialist party gained power in Germany, she fled to Paris. There she re-met Herman Berlinski whom she had known both at school and the conservatory, and they were married in 1934.
In Paris she studied piano with Alfred Cortot at l'École Normale de Musique, but was forced to leave France with her husband in 1940 following the fall of France to the Germans and the subsequent collaboration of the Vichy régime in expelling Jews and other "undesirables".
The Berlinskis arrived in New York City in 1941, established their home in Manhattan, and their son David was born the following year. They continued to live in New York, where her husband worked and studied, until he was appointed in 1963 to a position in Washington, D.C..
Right from the time of her arrival in the US, Sina Berlinski began giving private piano lessons, often spending long parts of each day travelling so she could do so. Later she undertook teaching responsibilities, particularly the training of accompanists, with the American University and The Catholic University of America. She also did extensive work with singers, with a special focus on the relationship between the music and the text.
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Nov '10
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
My deepest condolences to her and her family. Her grandmother see It will be more than a bit quieter around here without her.
Dec '10
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
One hundred years is a lot to celebrate. "A human life is a story told by God." Hans Christian Andersen
Feb '11
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
Peace and blessings on Ms. Berlinksi and her family.
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
Oh no, Claire. I'm so sorry. I'm glad you were able to see her so recently. Take care, and try to drink in all the wonderful stories you will certainly hear about her life in the coming days.
Jun '10
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
Claire and her family have been blessed and will continue to be blessed especially whenever they hear the wonderful music that Sina played in the years to come. My prayers are with her and her family.
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
Very sorry. This one always helps me:
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I did not die.
Sep '10
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Claire,
I am sorry as well, but glad that you were able to visit your grandmother so close to her passing. And so happy that your grandmother's finest composition, her son David, brought you into this world for our enjoyment too.
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
An extraordinary life, and an extraordinary family. Claire, please accept my sincere condolences. My grandparents are all gone now, the last one passing away just over a year ago. A chapter closes, yet still becomes a part of us. It must have been an amazing experience being surrounded by such people. I'm so sorry for your loss. You and yours remain in my prayers.
Edited on Feb 22, 2011 at 11:33amMay '10
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
My condolences, Claire.
I was hoping to find a YouTube video of her playing some music. I was able to find a student of hers.
My first teacher was a remarkable lady... [who] lives in Washington, D.C. Her name is Sina Berlinski. She and her husband, Herman, were Cortot students. I started with her when I was eight and when I was eleven Herman got a job in Washington, D.C., so they moved. I'm still in touch with her. She's way into her nineties. In fact I had a note from her the other day. She has the most gorgeous handwriting. You should see it. When I get a letter from her, it reminds me of the handwriting that was all over my notebook.
...
She would complain that my tastes were too conservative. In fact, she asked me a few years ago when she was already in her nineties and I was telling her I was doing a program of music mostly from the 19th century, "May I ask you when you are going to enter the 20th century?"
Here is Isler playing Rachmaninoff.
Edited on Feb 22, 2011 at 8:57amSep '10
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
Aaron, kudos on that find. Thank you!
Jun '10
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
I join with the others in expressing condolences--but also joy in having a grandmother who exemplifies the life well lived.
One slight correction to the obit: "Claire Berlinski, a novelist, biographer, freelance journalist, travel writer, and leading light on Ricochet, the Internet's best new website." I'm certain Claire's grandmother would have been proud of that too.
Dec '10
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
Claire, may you and your family find healing, and may your grandmother find peace.
Jul '10
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
A long life, well lived. Condolences.
Jun '10
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
It's very hard to say good bye, even after a century, which if personal feelings are any indication, is not enough.
Réquiem ætérnam dona ei Dómine;
et lux perpétua lúceat ei.
Requiéscat in pace.
Amen.
Edited on Feb 22, 2011 at 10:06amRe: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
Condolences to the Berlinski family and all who mourn Sina.
Jul '10
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
I'm sorry for your loss Claire. May she rest in peace. My condolences to you and your family.
May '10
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
My prayers are with you and your family Claire. Take care.
Feb '11
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
Like others, may I offer condolences to Claire and the Berlinski family.
Edited on Feb 22, 2011 at 11:37amFeb '11
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
May the Almighty comfort Claire and her family, and may Sina's memory be a blessing to all who knew her.
Nov '10
Re: Sina Berlinski (1910–2011)
I join with all other Ricochevians in offering my sympathy to you and your entire, amazingly talented, family.