1938: Shostakovich encourages his pupil Fleischmann to write an opera based on the Chekhov story 'Rothschild's violin'. Fleischmann is killed during the siege of Leningrad. Shostakovich completes the orchestration, but in 1948 is advised to suppress the opera, during Stalin's campaign against "rootless cosmopolitans". Jewish motifs enter Shostakovich's own work.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Sergey MakovetskiyShostakovich | Shostakovich |
 Dainius KazlauskasBenjamin Fleischmann | Benjamin Fleischmann |
 Tõnu KarkThe Minister | The Minister |
 Tarmo MännardMoishe Vainberg | Moishe Vainberg |
| TTamara SolodovnikovaAunt Nadezhda | Aunt Nadezhda |
 Kaljo KiiskNot listed | Not listed |
 Epp EespäevMme Shostakovich | Mme Shostakovich |
| KKirill ShigaevMaxim Shostakovich | Maxim Shostakovich |
 Katariina UntNot listed | Not listed |
 Sulev LuikNot listed | Not listed |
 Mari TörőcsikMarfa | Marfa |
 Székely B. MiklósBronza | Bronza |
 Sándor ZsótérRothschild | Rothschild |
| FFerenc JávoriShakhes | Shakhes |
| KKirsi Mari LepikFleischmann's Daughter | Fleischmann's Daughter |