Concert to Commemorate 80 years since Kristallnacht

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand is holding: Kristallnacht – The Concert of Hope, with the evening’s highlight being the performance of Violins of Hope by Israeli violinist and rising star, Tal First and Inbal Megiddo of the New Zealand School of Music.

Kristallnacht was the night of 9-10 November 1938 when carefully orchestrated anti-Jewish violence was carried out throughout the German Reich. On this night in November 1938 there were mass arrests and the murder of Germany’s Jewish population, with widespread destruction of Jewish businesses and synagogues by the Nazis.

The pogrom of 9 November was given the name Kristallnacht, referring ironically to the litter of broken glass left in the streets. It marked the beginning of the systematic eradication of a people and it was the prelude to the Holocaust that was to follow.

Jeremy Smith Chair of the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand said: “The Violins of Hope is deeply poignant and honours the violins collected and restored by Israeli violin maker, Amnon Weinstein – violins that were played in the ghettos and concentration camps, or belonged to victims of the Holocaust.” Cellist, Inbal Megiddo is putting together the concerts programme which includes: Mahler’s early Piano Quartet, along with works by internationally renowned Jewish composers who either died in concentration camps, fled Europe, or composed their music while held in concentration camps. Two songs by Kurt Weill will also be performed.

“We are exceptionally lucky to have Tal First come to New Zealand to perform Violins of Hope, he is a rising star, currently at New York’s world famous Julliard School. He is a member of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra (conducted by Daniel Barenboim) and concertmaster of the Young Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, Tal is already an accomplished chamber musician,” Jeremy Smith said.

The concert will be held at 7.00pm on 8 November in the Renouf Foyer of the Michael Fowler Centre. Tickets are available for $50 from Ticketmaster.

Tal First and Inbal Megiddo will be joined by conductor and performer, Donald Maurice; pianist Jian Liu; singer Pasquale Orchard; and dancer Raicheal Doohan.

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