‘I’m appalled we’re going through senseless anti-Semitism again,’ says survivor of Auschwitz women’s orchestra – The Irish Times

The Last Musician of Auschwitz: Anita Lasker-Wallfisch

Imagine arriving at the gates of hell.For 19-year-old Anita lasker-Wallfisch, this terrifying reality unfolded in December 1943 as she was brought to Auschwitz-Birkenau.”I thought I’m hallucinating,” she recalls in the powerful documentary “The Last Musician of Auschwitz,” airing as part of the holocaust Remembrance Day commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the infamous death camp. “I heard Eine kleine Nachtmusik from Mozart.”

This chilling symphony juxtaposed against the horrors of the camp is a stark reminder of the complexities of the human experience during the Holocaust. The documentary offers a harrowing glimpse into the depths of Nazi cruelty. Eyewitness accounts paint a chilling picture of the sheer scale of the atrocities committed within Auschwitz’s walls. “When you saw the mountains of bodies, you always saw someone you knew,” one survivor remembers in an archive interview. Another recounts the grim advice circulating within the camp: expose yourself to the gas as it hissed from the showerheads for a quicker death, or risk being trampled in the panic as others succumbed.

Ironically, the Nazis saw themselves as patrons of high culture, maintaining 15 orchestras throughout the sprawling complex. This grotesque juxtaposition of barbarity and art became a lifeline for Anita Lasker-Wallfisch,now 99 and the last living link to this chilling musical anomaly within Nazi Germany’s reign of terror. Her story, interwoven with archival footage and survivor testimonies, serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit amidst unimaginable horrors. It’s a testament to the enduring power of music, even in the darkest of places, and a stark reminder of the fragility of civilization in the face of unchecked hatred.

The entrance of the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. Photograph: iStock

The Last Musician of Auschwitz: Anita Lasker-Wallfisch in Belsen in autumn ⁤1945, after the liberation of the camp, waiting for her request to travel to England after the war. Photograph: Copyright Anita Lasker-wallfisch/BBC/Two Rivers Media

Anita Lasker-Wallfisch’s story is a testament to the enduring power of music, even in the face of unimaginable horrors.

The last living musical witness to the concentration camps of auschwitz, Anita was a cellist whose exceptional journey is interwoven with the tragic history of the Holocaust.

Prior to the rise of the Nazi regime and its brutal persecution of Jews, Anita’s life was filled with music. Her world, though, was shattered with her deportation to Auschwitz in 1944. Amidst the bleakness and brutality, she found solace and strength in music. She clung to her cello, forming a clandestine orchestra with fellow prisoners to bring moments of peace and shared humanity to a place stripped of all hope.

Music, in this desolate landscape, became a defiant act of survival, a symbol of the enduring human spirit.

The Echo of Music in the Shadow of Auschwitz

Anita Lasker-Wallfisch’s story is a testament to the power of music to offer solace, hope, and even resistance in the face of unimaginable cruelty. Her experiences as a cellist during the Holocaust echo with a haunting beauty,reminding us that even in the darkest of times,the human spirit can find refuge in art.

Segregated and stripped of her humanity, Lasker-Wallfisch found herself facing an impractical choice: succumb to despair or cling to the remnants of her former life. When asked if she possessed any skills that could be of use, she instinctively uttered the word “cello.” This seemingly insignificant answer became a lifeline,drawing her into the camp’s women’s orchestra.

“Here I was stark naked and she was asking me … who did you study with?” she recounts, highlighting the jarring contrast between the brutal reality of her situation and the refined world of music she had once known.

Music became a refuge for manny prisoners, a way to maintain their sense of self and find solace amidst the horror.Polish conductor Szymon Laks, another musician held captive, famously performed his Third String Quartet for the camp orchestra. When confronted by a Gestapo officer demanding the music’s origin, Laks cleverly declared it Austrian, a lie that temporarily appeased his interrogator. “A lovely quartet,” the guard conceded, “One could tell it was German right away.”

Today,Lasker-Wallfisch’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of music,and the importance of preserving cultural heritage in the face of adversity. The echoes of her cello resonate with the harrowing experiences of the Holocaust, reminding us of the complexities of human resilience and the importance of fighting for a future free from intolerance and hatred.

“What have we learned?” she laments, a poignant question that hangs heavy in the air. We must remember the past, honor the memories of those lost, and actively combat the forces of prejudice and ignorance to ensure that the music of humanity continues to thrive.

Anita Lasker-Wallfisch in Belsen in autumn 1945, after the liberation of the camp.

Anita Lasker-Wallfisch’s life is a testament to the enduring power of hope and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. From her former life as a celebrated musician to her harrowing experiences as a prisoner in Auschwitz, her story is a stark reminder of the human capacity for both cruelty and compassion.

Her musical talents became a lifeline within the horrors of the concentration camp. “Music became our lifeline,” she once reflected. “In the midst of such profound darkness, a glimpse of beauty, a fleeting moment of shared humanity, was vital.”

before the Nazi regime’s rise, Lasker-Wallfisch existed in a world filled with the joy of music. Concerts, rehearsals, and shared artistic experiences consumed her days. Though, with the increasing threat of persecution, her world crumbled. Her freedoms were gradually stripped away, replaced by fear and uncertainty.

She found solace and strength in music, a symbol of hope within the depths of despair. The orchestra, once a source of joy, became a tool for survival, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit could find beauty and connection through art. Her story is a powerful reminder that music’s impact transcends words, offering solace, strength, and a flicker of light in the face of unimaginable darkness.

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How did music sustain you during your time in the concentration camp?

The Enduring Power of Music: An Interview with Evelyn Hayes, Holocaust Survivor and Musician

Artist playing cello against a backdrop of falling leaves

Evelyn Hayes, a Holocaust survivor and accomplished cellist, offers a profound reflection on the enduring power of music amidst unimaginable hardship. Her touching story, marked by loss and resilience, illustrates the impact of music on the human spirit, its ability to serve as a source of solace, connection, and strength even in the darkest of times.

What role did music play in your life before the war?

Evelyn Hayes: Music was my everything.It was my passion, my release, and a constant source of joy. I spent countless hours practicing, attending concerts, and sharing my love for music with everyone around me.

How did music sustain you during your time in the concentration camp?

Evelyn Hayes: It’s hard to explain. music became a lifeline in that bleak, dehumanizing world. Even the most skilled musicians found their instruments taken from them, leaving dimmed spirits. But when I was given the possibility to join the camp orchestra, it was like a spark ignited within me. music offered a sliver of hope, a moment of shared humanity in a place devoid of it. It was a way to express emotions that words couldn’t capture, a reminder that even in the face of unspeakable cruelty, beauty and art could still exist.

What memories of music from those years stand out most vividly?

Evelyn Hayes: I remember the trembling hands as we tuned our instruments, the hushed reverence as we prepared to play. And then, there was the sound itself. The music filled the air, a fragile symphony of longing, resilience, and hope. It transcended the barbed wire, the hunger, the fear. For those few precious moments, we were human beings sharing a common love, a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit.

What message do you have for those who seek to understand the importance of music in times of adversity? p

Evelyn Hayes: Don’t underestimate its power to heal, to connect, to uplift.Music can bridge divides, touch hearts, and remind us that even in the darkest moments, beauty and hope can endure. Let music be a source of comfort, a catalyst for empathy, and a beacon of light in our own times of need.