Reawakening Suppressed Music

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ABOUT THE PROJECT

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Reawakening Suppressed Music is a three-year project dedicated to recording and sharing some of the silenced symphonic works written by Jewish composers who suffered under the Nazis, as well as bringing to the public awareness other banned musical treasures that otherwise will be lost forever.

A consortium made up of the Wiener Holocaust Library, Symphonova UK Ltd., The Leo Smit Foundation, and Donemus Publishing is embarking on this ambitious mission, fuelled by expert historical knowledge, unique resources, and passion.

The project will be undertaken by the Wiener Holocaust Library, one of the oldest Holocaust archives in the world. The Library’s team will support the project with its extensive historical knowledge, unique resources, and research capabilities. The musical aspects of the project will be led by Symphonova. Using Symphonova’s innovative technologies will enable audiences to experience large orchestral scores in new ways and unusual contexts. 

The Leo Smit Foundation in Amsterdam, which champions the discovery and publication of works by persecuted composers during the second World War contributes invaluable knowledge and experience. Donemus Publishing in the Netherlands holds a remarkable collection of works by composers who suffered from the Holocaust, enriching our project with hidden gems.

Our curation process prioritises compositions for large orchestras that have never been recorded or that the recordings are either of poor quality or not available to the public. As part of the project, we will disseminate the recordings through a series of international events aimed at professionals and the general public. In these curated events, audiences will be able to experience orchestral performances while learning about the historical and cultural contexts of the music presented. The inaugural event is planned for April 28, 2024, at Friends House in London.

The Consortium

The Wiener Holocaust Library

Symphonova UK Ltd.

Donemus Publishing

Leo Smit Stichting

The Curation

In the first year of the project, we prioritised scores that were published by Donemus but were never recorded.  

Looking ahead and exploring the intricate tapestry of music suppressed during the Holocaust and beyond, ‘Reawakening Suppressed Music’ confronts a myriad of compelling questions. How do we define a ‘suppressed’ composer – is it solely through their experiences during the Holocaust, or does it extend to the long shadow cast on their prior or subsequent career, especially if they enjoyed prominence and success? The boundaries of identity are equally challenging: what defines a Jewish composer in the context of conversion, secular life, or personal identification? Moreover, the scope of suppression transcends the Holocaust, prompting us to consider artists persecuted under other regimes, religious autocracies, and at other times in history. And finally, central to our exploration is the profound inquiry: how can we present and appreciate this music in a way that honours both its history of suppression and the cultural loss it signifies, while also engaging with and highlighting its intrinsic artistic value? 

These questions cannot receive definitive answers, but they are absolutely not rhetorical; rather, I’ve presented them to acknowledge that they and many other related questions are profound and we are keen to listen attentively to thoughtful and informed conversation by experts. However, in the context of our stated purpose, we articulate these questions so they may stimulate wide and general discussion; and thereby also inform our endeavour to unearth, perform, and share a diverse range of suppressed music.  

Dr Shelley Katz

Symphonova Conductor

Wiener Holocaust Library Fellow

How the Recordings are Made: The Symphonova®

Recording a large number of unknown, big orchestral scores and bringing them to the public awareness in a series of performances become possible with the use of the innovative Symphonova system.

The Symphonova is a powerful method using cutting edge technology for creating the richness of an orchestral experience. It enables Symphonova conductor to control in real time the nuances of musical expression over virtual instruments using conventional conducting gestures.

We hope that the recordings will inspire other conductors and orchestras to perform these musical treasures to their audiences

This project is generously supported by Bader Philanthropies

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