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One Last Time

Wed, 01/21/2015 - 10:10am

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Anita Lasker-Wallfisch had a lucky moment while being processed at the Sauna in Auschwitz-Birkenau.  One of the girls processing her asked her what she did prior to landing in that place of unspeakable horror. “I played the cello,” she answered. That surreal conversation, not far from the gas chambers at Birkenau, would save her life.  As a member of the Auschwitz women's orchestra, playing the cello meant respite from heavy labor.  

TAGS:
Day 48 of 70 Days of Testimony: Louis Bannet on the camp orchestra
Henry Rosmarin from Testimony
Alice Sommer on the Music in Terezín
Chaim Goldberger – A Prayer of Thanksgiving

‘Lost Music of the Holocaust’ Performed by Survivor’s Grandson

Tue, 06/25/2013 - 2:08pm

June 18 saw the U.S. premiere of a set of piano variations on a Polish patriotic theme composed in the Dachau concentration camp by prisoner of war Leon Kaczmarek (1903–1973). Kaczmarek’s composition was performed by 17-year-old pianist Nicholas Biniaz-Harris, winner of the National Symphony Orchestra’s 2013 Young Soloists’ Competition.

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Music

This set of clips from the Institute's archive showcases survivors before the camera performing music that helped sustain them during the Holocaust.

Music

Victor Aitay

Mr. Aitay, received his first violin from his father at age 5. He was a Concert Violinist in his native Budapest, Hungary, and later became the Concertmaster for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He plays Bach's Adagio First Sonata on his Guadagnini violin.

Gender: Male
DOB: April 14, 1921
City of birth: Budapest
Country of birth: Hungary
Ghettos: No
Went into hiding: No
Other experiences: Hungarian Forced Labor Battalions, Protected Houses (Budapest), Displaced Persons Camps

 

MORE CLIPS...

  • Wolf Deane remembers music from the Lodz ghetto

    Language: English

    Wolf Deane plays the song composed and sang by Jews in the Lodz ghetto in Poland. This testimony clip and melody is featured in the short film Melodies of Auschwitz.   

  • Victor Aitay

    Language: English

    Mr. Aitay, received his first violin from his father at age 5. He was a Concert Violinist in his native Budapest, Hungary, and later became the Concertmaster for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He plays Bach's Adagio First Sonata on his Guadagnini violin.

    Gender: Male
    DOB: April 14, 1921
    City of birth: Budapest
    Country of birth: Hungary
    Ghettos: No
    Went into hiding: No
    Other experiences: Hungarian Forced Labor Battalions, Protected Houses (Budapest), Displaced Persons Camps

     

  • Klara Benjamin Belkin

    Language: English

    A gifted cellist from an early age, Mrs. Benjamin-Belkin became the main Cellist for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in Canada. She plays Bach's Prelude in G Major on her cello.

    Gender: Female
    DOB: November 6, 1929
    City of birth: Mezőtúr
    Country of birth: Hungary
    Ghettos: Szeged ghetto
    Camps: Bergen-BelsenWent into hiding: No
    Other experiences: Displaced Persons Camps

     

  • Chaim Goldberger

    Language: English

    Cantor Goldberger sings a Chapter of the Psalms-a prayer of thanksgiving- often recited by his father, the Chief Cantor at the main synagogue in Copenhagen.

    Gender: Male
    DOB: May 6, 1938
    City of birth: Copenhagen
    Country of birth: Denmark
    Camps: No
    Ghettos: No
    Went into hiding: Yes
    Other experiences: Fled from Nazi-controlled territory (Denmark to Sweden) in 1943

     

Henry Rosmarin
Ruth Apfel
Chaim Goldberger

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