Randy

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Arts & Culture > Esp. for Tealstar: Alice's Piano
 

Esp. for Tealstar: Alice's Piano

Having just completed a book, I must relate it to all.
It's titled "Alice's Piano, The Life of Alice Herz-Sommer".

Alice, born in 1903, was a Czech child prodigy on the piano.
In 1942, she and her family were held prisoners in Theresienstadt concentration camp (Jews).

While most of her immediate family were murdered, she and her son survived, thanks to her piano concerts.

This particular concentration camp was "a 'show camp', a living slice of propaganda engineered by the Nazis to convince outsiders that the Jews were being treated humanely". Alice was a featured "performer", all the while millions were being tortured and gassed. (As sick as the events were, the book gives an inside look at the conditions prisoners faced.)

Chopin was Alice's forte (which Harriet (Teal) played for me once). For all the pianists reading the book, there are many musical passages added.

It's a sad, even tragic story, yet Alice's optimistic personality transcends the doom and gloom. Incredibly, Alice is still alive at 108!! Oldest Holocaust survivor.
If you "google" her, there is a youTube "recital" given by her. Even if you don't read the book, you should all look her up. She's an amazing story. (Harriet, get the book!!)

posted on July 25, 2012 8:36 AM ()

Comments:

I read this yesterday but did not leave a comment? I think I am losing my mind!
comment by dragonflyby on July 28, 2012 8:24 AM ()
Oh!thought that this was a free country.
comment by fredo on July 26, 2012 1:54 PM ()
Hey, a few weeks ago you were complaining that no one was reading your blog or commenting.
reply by boots586 on July 26, 2012 3:32 PM ()
Sorry,the wrong movie.The Pianist about the Polish Jew with Adrien Brody that won the award for this movie and it was a good one.Did you see this one?
comment by fredo on July 25, 2012 3:03 PM ()
Hey, what's the idea of "conversing" with Teal on MY blog sight?!!
reply by solitaire on July 26, 2012 1:44 PM ()
I didn't see that movie either, but heard a lot about it and heard him play. Really bad. But he had a good story.
reply by tealstar on July 25, 2012 3:40 PM ()
I watched a couple of interviews with her on YouTube with her speaking and playing the piano. She is an inspiration to us all. Thanks for letting us know about her. We should all live so long.
comment by boots586 on July 25, 2012 2:24 PM ()
So now you don't have to read the book (but you should!). I told my dad about her, because he's a lot like Alice--in that he plays the piano about an hour every day (and exercises like she does).
reply by solitaire on July 26, 2012 1:43 PM ()
I'll Google her, Randy, but I am not sure I want to read about her trauma and the conditions. Have read books about the camps in the past, worked on a mss. from a woman who survived. It broke my heart. I always get very depressed.
comment by tealstar on July 25, 2012 10:09 AM ()
Really, the book isn't too depressing. Actually, it's inspirational. You can always skip over the "ugly" parts. I'm like you, however. Would rather avoid the unsettling pages. That's one reason I don't do movies--can't skip over them. I really think you would like the book, but that's your decision.
reply by solitaire on July 26, 2012 1:40 PM ()
The movie that I try to remember was the Pianist about the Polish Jew there.
Adrian Brody won an award for the best actor and was confused with Piano.
reply by fredo on July 25, 2012 3:05 PM ()
Did you ever see the Piano?
comment by fredo on July 25, 2012 10:02 AM ()
No. Remember, I don't do movies.
reply by solitaire on July 26, 2012 1:36 PM ()
I saw that movie and had an emotional problem with the scene where her husband breaks her fingers. I told Sophie (my piano mentor) about it and she said, that's it, I am not going to see it.
reply by tealstar on July 25, 2012 10:31 AM ()
Thanks for the recommendation — looking forward to reading it!
comment by marta on July 25, 2012 9:57 AM ()
Great! You'll like it, guaranteed!
reply by solitaire on July 26, 2012 1:41 PM ()

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