“Everything is a present”
Almost four years ago now, as a result of an interview in the “Guardian” newspaper, I did a blog posting about the utterly remarkable Alice Herz-Sommer. I mention her on this blog again now because I have just watched a recording of a BBC Four television documentary broadcast at the end of January and filmed when she was 98 and in conversation with Christopher Nupen.
Holocaust survivor Alice Herz-Sommer tells how, in Terezin concentration camp where she was imprisoned, she played more than 100 concerts, and credits music for saving her life during this horrific experience.
At the age of 104 she gained international fame after a book based on her life, “A Garden of Eden in Hell”, became a bestseller, and was also the star of prize-winning film “We Want the Light”. Now aged 106, she is the second oldest person in London and continues to practice piano every day.
In the BBC Four interview, she explains how, having survived the Holocaust, “Everything is a present”.
September 2nd, 2010 at 2:45 am
Terezin was an extraordinary cultural site, as many European Jewish artists, composers, performers, writers, etc., were imprisoned there awaiting transit to the Death camps in the East. Although aware most would not survive to liberation, the prisoners resolved to make the most of their time, both for the intrinsic rewards possible from fine art and also as a refutation of the Nazi insistence that captives – especially if Jews – would and must decline in their humanity and level of civilization. Here, as everywhere else, they were mistaken – and Terezin proved as much.
October 31st, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Hello Roger!
I just wanted to say I recently saw the amazing video with Alice and was so blown away by her inspirational story that I HAD to blog about her! That’s how I found your nice blog.
Thanks for sharing!