Ad Auschwitz si ‘esibiva’ anche un’orchestra di zingari, un quartetto d’archi e un’orchestra maschile. Assai celebre, anche perché unica nel suo genere, infine, un’orchestra tutta femminile, che assunse particolare rilievo a partire dai primi mesi del 1943, dopo l’arrivo al campo di Alma Rosé, figlia di Justine Mahler (sorella minore diGustav Mahler) e di Arnold Rosé, famoso Konzertmeister dell’Orchestra Filarmonica di Vienna e fondatore del Quartetto Rosé
1926 c. Alma Maria Rose (1906-1944).
Relation to Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): A daughter of a sister (niece).
- Born: 03-11-1906, Vienna, Austria.
- Father: Arnold Josef Rose (1863-1946).
- Mother: Justine (Ernestine) Rose-Mahler (1868-1938).
- Brother: 1:
- Marriage: 00-00-1930 Location unknown.
- Husband: Vasa Prihoda (1900-1960) (Czech Republic, violinist virtuoso).
- Children: No.
- Divorce: 00-00-1935 Location unknown.
- Profession: Violinist.
- Died: 04-04-1944 Ausschwitz, Germany. Aged 37, food poisoning.
- Buried in name: 00-00-0000 Grinzing cemetery (20-5-6), Vienna, Austria. Rose family grave. She is not in the cemetery administration, only a memorial.
More
- Named after her aunt Alma Mahler (1879-1964), wife of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911).
- Recording of Bach Double violin concerto (1928).
- Conductor of the girl orchestra in Ausschwitz.
- In later years, it was claimed that Prihoda was divorced for opportunistic reasons because of National Socialism. However, these claims are unfounded because the chronology does not fit, and his second wife was also Jewish.
Alma Rosé was an Austrian violinist of Jewish descent. Her uncle was the composer Gustav Mahler. She was deported by the Nazis to the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. There, for ten months, she directed an orchestra of prisoners who played to their captors to stay alive. Rosé died in the concentration camp of a sudden illness, possibly food poisoning. Rosé’s experience in Auschwitz is depicted in the controversial play “Playing for Time” by Fania Fénelon.
Early years
Alma Rosé’s father was the violinist Arnold Rosé (né Rosenblum; 1863–1946) who was the leader of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for 50 years: from 1881-1931 as well as leader of the Vienna State Opera orchestra and leader of the legendary Rosé String Quartet. Her mother, Justine (died 22 August 1938), was Gustav Mahler’s sister. Alma was named for Alma Mahler.
Marriage
Alma grew up to be a violinist. In 1930 she married the Czech violinist Váša Příhoda (1900–1960). In 1935 the marriage was dissolved.
Career
Rosé had a highly successful career. In 1932 she founded the woman’s orchestra, Die Wiener Walzermädeln (The Waltzing Girls of Vienna). The concertmistress was Anny Kux, a friend. The ensemble played to a very high standard, undertaking concert tours throughout Europe.
Escape from the Nazis and final arrest
After the annexation of Austria with Germany in 1938 Alma and her father Arnold, himself a famous violin virtuoso, managed to escape to London. She returned to the continent and continued to perform in the Netherlands. Alma Maria Rose (1906-1944)When the Germans occupied the Netherlands, she was trapped. A fictitious marriage to a Dutch engineer named August van Leeuwen Boomkamp did not save her; nor did her nominal status as a Christian convert. She fled to France, but in late 1942 when she tried to escape to neutral Switzerland, she was arrested there by the Gestapo. After several months in the internment camp of Drancy she was finally deported in July 1943 to the concentration camp at Auschwitz.
Auschwitz
Upon arrival in Auschwitz, Rosé was quarantined and became very ill, but was eventually recognized. She assumed leadership of the Mädchenorchester von Auschwitz (Girls Orchestra of Auschwitz). The orchestra had been in existence before Rosé’s arrival, a pet project of SS-Oberaufseherin Maria Mandel. Prior to Rosé, the orchestra was conducted by Zofia Czajkowska, a Polish teacher. The ensemble consisted mainly of amateur musicians, with a string section, but also accordions and a mandolin. The orchestra’s primary function was to play at the main gate each morning and evening as the prisoners left for and returned from their work assignments; the orchestra also gave weekend concerts for the prisoners and the SS and entertained at SS functions.
Rosé conducted, orchestrated and sometimes played violin solos during its concerts. She helped to mold the orchestra into an excellent ensemble, all of whose members survived during her tenure, and after her death, all save two would live to see the end of the war.
Rosé herself died, aged 37, of a sudden illness at the camp, possibly food poisoning. The orchestra included two professional musicians, cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch and vocalist/pianist Fania Fénelon, each of whom wrote memoirs of their time in the orchestra that were eventually translated into English. Fénelon’s account, Playing for Time, was made into a film of the same name. Alma’s father, Arnold Rosé, died in England not long after the war ended.
- Began in Auschwitz in 1943 after request by SS soldiers
- First led by Zofia Czajkowska then taken over by Alma Rosé
- Encouraged by Maria Mandel
- Played regardless of weather conditions
Purposes
- All official events like orders from Lagerführer – commandant
- Played during arrivals or when people were being sent to gas chambers
- False hope, made it seem like nothing was wrong
- Played during role calls, Selections
- Gave private concerts to SS soldiers, played for the sick in the infirmary
- Concerts on Sundays
- Auschwitz/Birkenau had six different orchestras
- One contained 100-120 musicians at one point
For Prisoners
- Used as survival technique by prisoners
- Members were given special privileges
- Milder work assignments, better rations and living conditions (wooden floors)
- Could alleviate terror for a moment, reminded them of traditions, distraction
- Gave a sense of companionship and belonging
http://www.gustav-mahler.eu/index.php/familie/120-generation-7b/361-1-alma-maria-rose-1906-1944