Chamber Music on the Fox presents 'Lost Voices' of the Holocaust as part of Violins of Hope
Every musical instrument has its own unique history and story - just ask any musician on a symphony stage about their violin or cello and you'll hear about its maker, its heritage, and its journey that brought it into the hands of the player who brings its music to life.
The "Violins of Hope" exhibit, which is coming to Elgin's Gail Borden Public Library this spring, brings with it powerful, tragic, uplifting, and emotional stories associated with the 70-plus instruments that were owned and played by musicians in concentration camps during World War II.
These instruments, painstakingly restored to reclaim their lost heritage and give voice to their victims, will be played by Chamber Music on the Fox players in several performances, thanks to support from the Seigle Foundation.
On Sunday, May 21, Chamber Music on the Fox presents "Lost Voices," a chamber music program dedicated to the music and memory of artists who perished in the Holocaust. The program will include music by Gideon Klein and Ilse Weber, two musicians and composers who perished in the Holocaust, as well as Andre Previn's Clarinet Quintet, a contemporary work that was composed as a living memorial to the musicians of the Terezin concentration camp. The program also will include an excerpt from Olivier Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time." It will be at 3 p.m. at Congregation Kneseth Israel, 330 Division St. in Elgin.
On Thursday, June 15, cellist Sara Sitzer will present a lecture on the "Music of the Terezin" at 6:30pm at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin.
Sitzer will explore the music that was performed and composed there, the artists that passed through, the vast cultural life of the concentration camp, and the propaganda that emerged as a result of that culture. After the presentation, a trio from Chamber Music on the Fox will perform Gideon Klein's String Trio, which was premiered in the Terezin camp in 1944.
Admission to both of these programs will be free, though tickets/registration are required.
Tickets for "Lost Voices" can be reserved through ChamberMusicOnTheFox.org, and attendees can register for the "Music of Terezin" presentation at gailborden.info.
For questions, please contact info@chambermusiconthefox.org.
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About Chamber Music on the Fox
Chamber Music on the Fox is a world class chamber music series serving the Fox valley region with engaging, enriching, and immersive live performances. Founded by bass trombonist Mark Fry and cellist Sara Sitzer in 2014, it introduces its audiences to renown local, national, and international artists in intimate, informal settings where patrons have an opportunity to see and hear the artists up close and personal. Along with the five-concert subscription series from October through May, CMOTF also offers three free family concerts each summer in partnership with Lords Park Zoo, as well as an annual celebration of the arts in partnership with the City of Elgin and Seigle Foundation. A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, it relies on generous donations from individuals, sponsorships, grants, and ticket sales. To learn more or support Chamber Music on the Fox, visit www.chambermusiconthefox.org.