September 10, 2025 | Center for Jewish History, New York City

The concert tells the story of three Polish composers whose lives were irrevocably changed by the Holocaust. Szymon Laks, who had been the conductor of the men’s orchestra at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, lived in France, where he composed music and wrote books after the war. Mieczysław Weinberg fled the Nazis and spent the remainder of his prolific career in Moscow, where he befriended Dmitri Shostakovich. Roman Ryterband, a pianist and composer, created music in Switzerland and later in the United States after the war.

However, this is not only a story about music and people, but also about a diverse country whose character was irreversibly transformed by the war. Therefore, alongside instrumental works, the concert program will also include songs in three languages: Polish, Hebrew, and Yiddish.

The Polish Chamber Musicians’ Association (PCMA), established in 2014, is one of the largest and most active music-focused organizations in Poland. With over 250 members… read more –>