Muller Pinkhos Zusmanovich (1907-1975)

Muller Pinkhos (Pinchos) Zusmanovich ( also known as Pavel Muller) (2 May 1907, Riga — 5 December 1975, Riga) — musician.

Pinkhos Muller was the son of Zusman Muller (1880, Riga — 1929, Riga) and Sara Muller (1880, Riga — 1941, Riga). In 1924 he graduated from the Riga Municipal Jewish Secondary School. At the same time, beginning in 1917, he studied violin with private teachers. From 1920 to 1924 he studied at the Latvian Conservatory (did not graduate).

In 1928–1929 he served in the Latvian Army. From 1929 to 1939 he worked as a violinist in Riga cinemas and restaurants (including, in the summer of 1935, at the “Casino” Hotel in Bulduri). From 1935 to 1938 he was a musician in the orchestra of the Forum cinema in Riga. From 1937 he was a member of the Latvian Musicians’ Society. In 1939 he played at the Era café.

In 1940–1941 Pinkhos Muller was a violinist in the orchestra of the Riga Opera and Ballet Theatre. In 1941 he was evacuated to Dushanbe, where he worked as a violinist in an orchestra. In 1942–1944 he was a violinist in the orchestra of the Leningrad Comedy Theatre, evacuated to Dushanbe. In 1944–1945 he moved with the theatre to Moscow. In 1945 he returned to Riga and until 1946 worked at the Riga Russian Drama Theatre. From 1946 to 1949 he was a violinist in the orchestra of the “Moscow” restaurant. From 1949 to 1963 he was the leader of the variety orchestra at the Astoria restaurant. From 1963 he was a violinist in the Latvian Radio Symphony Orchestra. In 1973–1974 he worked as a dental technician at a military hospital. In 1974–1975 he played in the orchestra of the Latvian Opera and Ballet Theatre.

During the Holocaust, his mother and his sister, Rashel (Muller) Zandberg (1908, Riga — 1941, Riga), were killed. His brothers, Moses Muller (1911, Riga — 1941) and Chaim Muller (1914, Riga — 1941), died heroically on the fronts of the Second World War.

In marriage with Esther (née Gerson) Muller (1922, Riga), two sons were born: Semyon Muller (1947, Riga) and Viktor Muller (1950, Riga).

In 1966 Pinkhos Muller and his family repeatedly petitioned for permission to emigrate to Israel at the invitation of his cousin, Chaya Shpats (1906, Riga), who had emigrated to Palestine in 1931 in search of work; however, the request was denied.

Family:

Esther (née Gerson) Muller (1922, Riga) — wife
Semyon Muller (1947, Riga) — son
Viktor Muller (1950, Riga) — son
Zusman Muller (1880, Riga — 1929, Riga) — father
Sara Muller (1880, Riga — 1941, Riga) — mother
Moses Muller (1911, Riga — 1941) — brother
Ruvin Muller (1912, Riga) — brother
Chaim Muller (1914, Riga — 1941) — brother
Rashel (née Muller) Zandberg (1908, Riga — 1941, Riga) — sister
Chaya Shpats (1906, Riga) — cousin