Rozsa’s Wish and The Angel of Chomutov: Two New Works by Marilyn Herman

Second generation composer Marilyn Herman will talk to founding director of Insiders/Outsiders Monica Bohm-Duchen and conductor Kǎrin Hendrickson about two brand new chamber works. One is entitled Rozsa’s Wish, based on the last words of Marilyn’s grandmother, Rachel Rozsa, to her children before she was sent to the gas chamber in Auschwitz – ‘I have lived. Just that you should live.’  In Marilyn’s own words, ‘my aunt related these words to me – in English (learned entirely from watching films!) in, I now realise, the Hebrew form (my aunt survived and lived in Israel after the War). It is in the Hungarian language, and scored for mezzo, harp (or piano), flute and strings.’ The other work is entitled The Angel of Chomutov, in the Czech language, scored for soprano, French horn, harp (or piano) and strings.  This pays tribute to the courage and compassion of a young Czech woman who risked and probably gave her life to hand Marilyn’s father a piece of bread, when aged just fourteen, he was on a death march from Buchenwald.

The event will include a screening of a video-recorded recital of these painfully beautiful works and involve other members of the composer’s family.

To book, click here.

Marilyn Herman – Composer

Karin Hendrickson – Conductor

Denise Alonzo – Soprano

Sarah Castle – Mezzo soprano

Fabian van de Geest – French Horn

Alyson Frazier – Flute

Anne Denholm – Harp

Philippa Mo – 1st Violin

Victoria Gill – 2nd Violin

Daniel Sanxis – Viola

Tom Wraith – Cello

Toby Hughes – Double Bass

Edita Brychta – Spoken Voice

For further information about Marilyn, click here + Spotlight on: Marilyn Herman – Sound and Music

and about Kǎrin, click here.

To find out more about the Jewish Museum and to donate, click here.