Musicians Behind the Iron Curtain

In the mid-1980s, four musicians from Boston, part of a klezmer ensemble, ventured into Soviet Russia to connect with a group of dissident musicians known as the Phantom Orchestra. The Phantom Orchestra operated in secrecy, facing severe repercussions for expressing their desire to emigrate from the Soviet Union. These musicians, labeled refuseniks, had previously endured imprisonment, abuse, and discrimination for their activism. The Boston musicians saw an opportunity to bridge cultural divides and share the stories of these oppressed artists, leading them to embark on a risky mission to gather information and help the dissidents.