As if it all happened yesterday: Gala concert for the survivors of Nazi persecution on Czech TV

27. 10. 2021 the State Opera welcomed  World War II witnesses, survivors and their friends at a gala concert. The concert dedicated to the victims and survivors of Nazi persecution is organized by the Czech-German Fund for the Future in cooperation with the National Theater with the financial support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague as part of the Musica non grata project.

During the concert, the works of the so-called Terezín composers Pavel Haas and Viktor Ullmann were heard in combination with a violin concerto by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. The survivors were welcomed by the artistic director of the Opera Per Boye Hansen, the directors of the Czech-German Fund Petr Ernstberger and Tomáš Jelínek, the ambassador of Germany Andreas Künne and the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic Miloš Vystrčil. At the end, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, addressedgreeted the guests in via video report.

Before the concert a book launch took place at the Angelo Neumann saloon. Book titled "As if it all happened yesterday" by Radka Denemarková and photographer Karel Cudlín portraits  photographs and memories of Nazi survivors.

You can watch the concert recorded by Czech Television on ČT art 27.11. 2021 from 20:15.

Concert Programme:

Pavel Haas: Scherzo triste, op. 5 for orchestra
Viktor Ullmann: Slawische Rhapsodie for Orchestra and Saxophone obbligato, op. 24
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op.64.
Allegro molto appassionato Andante. Allegro non troppo Allegro molto vivace

Violine: Viviane Hagner
State Opera Orchestra
Conductor: Karl-Heinz Steffens