MUSIC

November 2018: Kristallnacht Concert of Remembrance

Kristallnacht Commemorative Concert 
November 8th, 2018
Renouf Foyer, Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield St Wellington.

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A concert of hope

This year's Kristallnacht concert in memory of the Nazi attack on the Jews of Germany on November 9, 1938 will have Hope as its underlying theme. Young Israeli violinist, Tal First and Inbal Megiddo of the NZ School of Music will perform Violins of Hope by Israeli composer, Ohad ben Ari
Tal First, is a promising young musician, currently at the Julliard School. He is a member of West-Eastern Divan Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim and concertmaster of the Young Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also a versatile chamber musician.
The Violins of Hope is a collection of violins collected and restored by Israeli violin maker, Amnon Weinstein, violins that were played in the ghettos, concentration camps, or belonged to victims of the Holocaust. Accompanying the exhibition of these violins in Berlin, Ohad Ben-Ari, celebrated Israeli pianist, conductor and composer, was commissioned to write the work for violin, cello and string orchestra that was performed by members of the Berlin Philharmonic at a special memorial concert.
The performance of this piece at this year's Kristallnacht concert will be its New Zealand premier.
Other works played at the concert will include Mahler's early Piano Quartet, Piano Trio by Jewish Hungarian composer, who was arrested in France, deported East, where he died, works by Dick Kattenburg, Dutch Jewish composer, who died in Auschwitz at the age of 24, two movements from Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time, a work he composed while in a prisoner of war camp, and two songs, by Kurt Weill.
It is an interesting and varied programme dedicated to the memory of the Holocaust and the casualties of war.
 
Steven Sedley, MNZN

http://www.violinsofhopecle.org/about/the-founder/