New Film "Fioretta" to Feature Arnold Schoenberg's Grandson

The American philanthropist, genealogist, and lawyer Randy Schoenberg explores his family's 500-year history in this documentary by Matthew Mishory

The composer Arnold Schoenberg is the subject of a new documentary by Matthew Mishory, which will soon receive its premiere. The film, titled Fioretta, follows the American philanthropist, genealogist, and lawyer Randy Schoenberg (Arnold's grandson) as he embarks on a journey to piece together his family history.

A wide-ranging documentary that covers 500 years of family history, Fioretta has a particular focus on the devastating effects of the Holocaust. Previously, Randy Schoenberg has made it his life's work to recover artworks that were looted or stolen during the Nazi regime.

The film's premiere showings, which took place at the Woodstock Film Festival and will at the the Zurich Film Festival, will be accompanied by performances of Schoenberg's early chamber work Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night).

The Zurich performance is at Arena Cinemas Sihlcity on Thursday, October 5 at 8:35PM CEST, following a screening at 6:00PM and a Q&A at 8:15PM.

"I never met my grandfather, but I was fortunate to be able to get to know him through the musical compositions he created," Randy Schoenberg said. "His music was my constant companion on the ancestral search that was the basis for the film. Verklärte Nacht, probably his most beloved and performed work, is in the Fioretta soundtrack, making it a feast for the ears as well as the eyes."

"I have been a devoted admirer of Arnold Schoenberg's music for a long time," said Johannes Fleischmann, one of the musicians performing at the premieres. "I can't imagine my life without it. Verklärte Nacht is one of the most significant chamber music compositions in history and it’s a great honor to be chosen to perform this late Romantic work at both concerts."

You can view the trailer for Fioretta below.