Voices from the holocaust
Music, Arts and Poetry from Theresiendtadt (Terezin) Ghetto/ Concentration Camp 1941-1945
The Exhibition you are visiting today is dedicated to the Children’s Opera “Brundibar” which was on stage at the Terezin between 1942 and 1944.
The Exhibition created and provided for the project by Elena Makarova and EMI group, Haifa, Israel. Elena Makarova is an Israeli author, art-therapist, researcher and art-exhibition curator.
Elena started her research on the Jewish Ghetto/KZ Theresienstadt (Terezin) in 1988; since then she and her group have produced over 20 books and number of articles on Holocaust history, along with documentary films, Internet publications, etc. The EMI group have collected rich and comprehensive documentation on the cultural life in Terezin concentration camp. This collection and research provided foundation to over 30 major exhibitions around the World. The exhibition “Children’s Opera Brundibar” was originally created for 2005 lectures series for Holocaust studies, University of California, Berkeley. In Japan series of lectures and exhibitions was viewed by more than one million visitors.
Story of Terezin
Terezín (Theresienstadt, in German) is located 40 miles from Prague.
It was built as a walled garrison town and fortress in the 18th century by the Habsburg monarchy. During the Second World War, the Nazis evicted the civilian population and created the concentration camp they called the “Theresienstadt Ghetto.” Terezin was not a death camp (all six death camps were located in Poland) but, rather, a work camp and transit point for the nearly 150,000 Jews who passed through the camp between 1941 and 1945, 33,000 died in the camp and over 88,000 were transported to Auschwitz and other death camps. By war’s end, only about 19,000 were alive. Almost all were adults. Of the 15,000 children confined in the camp, less than one percent survived. Despite hunger, disease, and the constant threat of transports to the death camps, the arts flourished in Terezín.
Brundibár is an opera written for children. No more than forty minutes long, it was composed in 1938 by Hans Krása, with lyrics by Adolf Hoffmeister. In July 1943, the score of Brundibár was smuggled into camp, where it was re-orchestrated by Krása for the various instrumentalists who were available to play at that time. The premiere of the Terezín version took place on 23 September 1943 in the hall of the Magdeburg barracks. Realizing the propagandistic potential of this enormously popular artistic endeavor, the Nazis arranged a special new staging of Brundibár for the propaganda film (directed by Kurt Gerron), and the same production was performed for the inspection of Terezín by the International Red Cross in September 1944. This would be the last of the fifty-five performances in Terezín; two weeks later, transportation of artists to Auschwitz and other destinations East began, silencing the most popular theatrical production in Terezín.
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Alexei Yavtuhovich was born in Belarus, earned a B.A. at Sokolovsky’s Musical College and a Master’s Degree in Violin Performance from the Belarusian Academy of Music in Minsk, Belarus. He graduated in 1995 specialized in violin and chamber music performance. At age 17, Alexei became a winner of the Republic of Belarus National Young Violinists competition.
Alexis Silverman received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education with a Concentration in Clarinet from The College of New Jersey. She has experience performing in multiple ensemble and solo settings, including band, orchestra, jazz ensembles, and pit orchestras. Alexis is a music teacher where she teaching general music, band, drama, and marching band.
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Annette earned her MFA in voice from the University of Minnesota, where she sang leads with the opera group and performed as soloist with area choirs and in summer stock. In the NY/NJ area she has performed as soloist with groups like the West Village Chorale, the Choral Arts Society of NJ, Jersey City State College and the Trenton Civic Opera.
(Ed.M, Ed.D, Columbia University, M.A., New York University, B.A., Montclair State University) is the orchestra director at John P. Stevens High School in Edison, NJ where he has taught since 2005.
Principal violist of the Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Dennis Krasnokutsky is an internationally acclaimed soloist and chamber musician. Lauded for performances as “…building in passion and intensity,’ (The New Times), “…exceptional experience for the audience,” (Srđan Teparić, Radio Belgrade), “…virtuosic performance with nuanced tone and exceptional musicality,” (Mirko Jeremic, Belgrade) he appeared in major concert halls nationally and around the globe including Avery Fischer Hall, Maryisnki Theatre, Kravis Center, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, Kolarac Hall, Atana Opera Theater, Teatro El Círculo, and more.
Finnish-American cellist Elina Snellman-Lang has appeared in some of the worlds leading concert venues, including Carnegie Hall, The Kimmel Center, Lincoln Center, Finlandia Hall, Mann Auditorium-Tel Aviv, Suntory-Hall Japan, Disney Hall and the Kennedy Center.
Elizabeth Lee is an active freelance cellist in the greater New York City area. She has performed as part of the Chelsea Symphony Orchestra, the Staten Island Philharmonic, Orchestra of Saint Peter by the Sea, Collegium Musicum, One World Symphony as principal cellist and the New Jersey Conservatory.
Dr. Jody Velloso is the music director and organist at Trinity Presbyterian Church in East Brunswick, NJ. She is a dramatic soprano who specializes in the music of the Czech Republic.
Joel Rudin, viola – a former member of the Laurentian String Quartet, toured the United States,Canada, and Asia, and recorded for the Musical Heritage Society, Soundspells Productions, and Newport Classics. An active chamber musician, he has been a frequent guest artist with the All Seasons Chamber Players and the di.vi.sion piano trio
Justin Lee is a versatile upright and electric bassist, who performs regularly in a wide variety of styles. He is currently a member of the New York City based Chelsea Symphony Orchestra, The New Jersey Capital Philharmonic, MRB Jazz Project, founding member of the Power House Big Band and Bob Page Jazz Trio, as well as co-owner of Allemande Ensembles, LLC.
Kim Wojcik is a lifelong trumpeter/cornetist who was an instrumental music educator for 20 years. She continues private music education and performs regularly with Imperial Brass and other brass groups and orchestras in the tri-state area.
A graduate of Russia’s famous Saratov State Conservatory, Ms. Nelly Fedorova had started her professional career with the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Veronica Dudarova. Two years later, she joined Moscow State Chamber “Vivaldi” Orchestra conducted by Svetlana Bezrodnaya, which has toured extensively throughout the world.
Pamela Ferrali is the Director of Percussion and an Assistant Director of Bands at John P. Stevens High School in Edison, NJ. A graduate of Rutgers University, she studied under accomplished New York City musicians including Joe Tompkins, Kyle Zerna, Ian Sullivan, Mike Truesdell, and Javier Diaz.
Phyllis Alpert Lehrer is known internationally as a teacher, performer, clinician, author and adjudicator. She has given master classes, workshops and enjoyed an active concert career as a soloist and collaborative artist in the United States, Canada, Central and South America, Asia and Europe.
Steven Ridge began his musical training studying the violin when he was eight years old. He studied privately with Larisa Epps, Nancy Wilson, and Mary Ann Mumm.
Steven has been a professional musician since 1983. After studying at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, he obtained a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, where he sang and toured with Joseph Flummerfelt and the Westminster Choir, studied choral pedagogy with Frauke Haasemann, and studied piano with Harold Zabrack.
Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.