Original cast of the Brundibar

children’s opera

Ghetto Terezin (1943)

Brundibar opera by Hans Krasa

Invitation to concert, ghetto Terezin

Greta Klingsberg and children from the cast

Greta Klingsberg and children during concert singing the

final victory song

Greta Klingsberg

Alice Herz-Sommer, 106 years-old

Concert pianist in ghetto Terezin

Alice Herz-Sommer, 106 years-old

Pianist in ghetto Terezin

Greta Klingsberg Hofmeister

Singer at the Brundibar children’s

opera in ghetto Terezin

On June 17 we filmed 106 years-old concert pianist Alice Herz-Sommer who lives in her small apartment.  Alice, who performed over 800 piano recitals in ghetto Terezin states: “They tore off our belongings, food and clothing but music is the one thing that they could not take away from us, music that evil could not destroy”.  Alice spoke of how music saved her life and honored us with an incredible performance on the piano of music byChopin.  In this rare occasion we captured an incredibly moving reunion of Alice with one of her former students, Greta Klingsberg, who studied with her the piano in Prague after their liberation.  Over the years, Alice and Greta remained good friends and shared their love of music from the distance.

Anita Lasker Wallfisch, Cello player

Women’s orchestra in Auschwitz

Anita Lasker Wallfisch

Cellist in women’s orchestra

Auschwitz concentration camp

Alice Herz-Sommer, 106 years-old

Pianist in ghetto Terezin

On June 18 we met with cello player Anita Lasker Wallfisch who was only 15 years old when she joined the women’s orchestra in Auschwitz concentration camp and became their single cellist.  Anita tells her story: “The cello really saved my life because to be in this orchestra was a way of survival because as long as they wanted music they would be very stupid to put us in the gas chambers.”

In the photo above Alice is in conversation with her old friend Anita to talk about the meaning of music in their lives.

Raphael Wallfisch,

cello player

Greta Klingsberg, cast & conductor Naomi Faran

Raphael Wallfisch is a world acclaimed cellist and the son of Anita Lasker Wallfisch.  Our crew joined him in conversation about the meaning and significance of music in their family.