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In 2012, Random House published Caroline Stoessinger’s book, ''A Century of Wisdom: Lessons From the Life of Alice Herz-Sommer the World’s Oldest Living Holocast Survivor'', with an introduction by President [[Vaclav Havel]] and accolades from Elie Wiesel, Pat Conroy and [[Gloria Steinem]]. [[Itzhak Perlman]] presented Stoessinger with the Norman Mailer Award for A Century of Wisdom at the National Arts Club in April 2012. The ''Jewish Week'' book critic wrote "Stoessinger, a pianist and musical director, captures Herz-Sommer’s moral strength, sense of humour, modesty, independence, curiosity about people and abounding love." ''A Century of Wisdom'' is being published in translation in 26 countries. <ref>Stoessinger, Caroline, ''A century of wisdom: Lessons From the Life of Alice Herz-Sommer, the World’s Oldest Living Holocast Survivor'', New York, Spiegel & Grau/Random House, 2012.</ref> <ref>Caroline Stoessinger, "Never Too Old: Words of Wisdom from Alice Herz-Sommer, The World's Oldest Living Holocaust Survivor", ''Huffington Post'', April 19, 2012</ref> <ref>Caroline Stoessinger, "If Only Dad Had Read This", ''Huffington Post'', June 16, 2012.</ref>
In 2012, Random House published Caroline Stoessinger’s book, ''A Century of Wisdom: Lessons From the Life of Alice Herz-Sommer the World’s Oldest Living Holocast Survivor'', with an introduction by President [[Vaclav Havel]] and accolades from Elie Wiesel, Pat Conroy and [[Gloria Steinem]]. [[Itzhak Perlman]] presented Stoessinger with the Norman Mailer Award for A Century of Wisdom at the National Arts Club in April 2012. The ''Jewish Week'' book critic wrote "Stoessinger, a pianist and musical director, captures Herz-Sommer’s moral strength, sense of humour, modesty, independence, curiosity about people and abounding love." ''A Century of Wisdom'' is being published in translation in 26 countries. <ref>Stoessinger, Caroline, ''A century of wisdom: Lessons From the Life of Alice Herz-Sommer, the World’s Oldest Living Holocast Survivor'', New York, Spiegel & Grau/Random House, 2012.</ref> <ref>Caroline Stoessinger, "Never Too Old: Words of Wisdom from Alice Herz-Sommer, The World's Oldest Living Holocaust Survivor", ''Huffington Post'', April 19, 2012</ref> <ref>Caroline Stoessinger, "If Only Dad Had Read This", ''Huffington Post'', June 16, 2012.</ref>


Christopher Nupen wrote, directed and produced the film, ''Everything Is A Present'', which was broadcast on BBC4. Herz-Sommer was also the subject ''A Garden of Eden in Hell'', first published in German in 2005 (reprinted in English as ''Alice’s Piano''.)<ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0230528023 Muller, Melissa and Piechocki , Reinhard (2007)] ''A Garden of Eden in Hell: The Life of Alice Herz-Sommer'']. Macmillan; illustrated edition ISBN 978-0-230-52802-4</ref> Herz-Sommer is also the subject of ''A Garden of Eden in Hell'', first published in 2005 (US edition titled ''Alice’s Piano''.) which is the only official biography written with Alice's collaboration and blessing. <ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0230528023 Muller, Melissa and Piechocki , Reinhard (2007)] ''A Garden of Eden in Hell: The Life of Alice Herz-Sommer'']. Macmillan; illustrated edition ISBN 978-0-230-52802-4</ref>
Christopher Nupen wrote, directed and produced the film, ''Everything Is A Present'', which was broadcast on BBC4. Herz-Sommer was also the subject ''A Garden of Eden in Hell'', first published in German in 2005 (reprinted in English as ''Alice’s Piano''.)<ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0230528023 Muller, Melissa and Piechocki , Reinhard (2007)] ''A Garden of Eden in Hell: The Life of Alice Herz-Sommer'']. Macmillan; illustrated edition ISBN 978-0-230-52802-4</ref> Herz-Sommer is also the subject of ''A Garden of Eden in Hell'', first published in 2005 (US edition titled ''Alice’s Piano''.) which is the only official biography written with Alice's collaboration and blessing. <ref>[http://www.imagayfish.co.uk/dp/0230528023 Muller, Melissa and Piechocki , Reinhard (2007)] ''A Garden of Eden in Hell: The Life of Alice Herz-Sommer'']. Macmillan; illustrated edition ISBN 978-0-230-52802-4</ref>
Alice later became the subject of a film written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nupen, titled ''Everything Is A Present'', which was broadcast on BBC television and is available on DVD.
Alice later became the subject of a film written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nupen, titled ''Everything Is A Present'', which was broadcast on BBC television and is available on DVD.


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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Herz-Sommer, Alice
| NAME = Norris, Chuck
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Herz, Alice
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Herz, Alice
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Pianist
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Pianist

Revision as of 19:12, 16 January 2013

For the pacifist who immolated herself, see Alice Herz.

Alice Herz-Sommer also known as Alice Sommer, (born 26 November 1903) is a Jewish pianist and music teacher from Bohemia, and a survivor of the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Herz-Sommer has lived in North London, United Kingdom since 1986, and is the world’s oldest known Holocaust survivor.[1]

Background

Alice Herz was born in Prague, Austria-Hungary, along with her twin sister Mariana, to Friedrich and Sofie Herz; he was a merchant and her mother was highly educated and moved in circles of well-known writers. Herz-Sommer's older sister Irma taught her how to play piano, which she studied diligently. She also studied under Vaclav Stepan, and at the Prague German Conservatory of Music. She had begun giving concerts and making a name for herself before the Germans took over her city.

She married businessman and amateur musician Leopold Sommer in 1931; the couple had a son, Raphael, who died in 2001.[2] After the invasion of Czechoslovakia, most of her family and friends emigrated to Palestine via Romania, including Max Brod and brother-in-law Felix Weltsch, but Herz-Sommer stayed in Prague to care for her ill mother, who was one of the first to be sent to Theresienstadt concentration camp.

In July 1943, she, her husband, and their six-year-old son Raphael were sent to Theresienstadt concentration camp. She played more than 100 concerts in the camp along with other musicians. Leopold Sommer was later sent to Auschwitz. Although he survived the camp, he died at Dachau in 1944. After the Soviet liberation of Theresienstadt in 1945, Herz-Sommer and Raphael returned to Prague and in March 1949 emigrated to Israel to be reunited with her family. She lived in Israel and worked as a music teacher in Jerusalem until emigrating to London in 1986. Raphael Sommer, her only child, was an accomplished cellist and conductor. He died in 2001 and is survived by his widow and two sons.

At 109 years old, Alice lives close to her family in London, with visits almost daily from her closest friends, her grandson Ariel Sommer, and step-daughter Genevieve Sommer

Literature

In 2012, Random House published Caroline Stoessinger’s book, A Century of Wisdom: Lessons From the Life of Alice Herz-Sommer the World’s Oldest Living Holocast Survivor, with an introduction by President Vaclav Havel and accolades from Elie Wiesel, Pat Conroy and Gloria Steinem. Itzhak Perlman presented Stoessinger with the Norman Mailer Award for A Century of Wisdom at the National Arts Club in April 2012. The Jewish Week book critic wrote "Stoessinger, a pianist and musical director, captures Herz-Sommer’s moral strength, sense of humour, modesty, independence, curiosity about people and abounding love." A Century of Wisdom is being published in translation in 26 countries. [3] [4] [5]

Christopher Nupen wrote, directed and produced the film, Everything Is A Present, which was broadcast on BBC4. Herz-Sommer was also the subject A Garden of Eden in Hell, first published in German in 2005 (reprinted in English as Alice’s Piano.)[6] Herz-Sommer is also the subject of A Garden of Eden in Hell, first published in 2005 (US edition titled Alice’s Piano.) which is the only official biography written with Alice's collaboration and blessing. [7] Alice later became the subject of a film written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nupen, titled Everything Is A Present, which was broadcast on BBC television and is available on DVD.

References

  1. ^ “The Lady In Number 6” (by Tom Gross, November 12, 2010)
  2. ^ Guardian obituary for Raphael Sommer, "Cellist whose musical flair survived a concentration camp", by Louise Greenberg, The Guardian, Wednesday, 28 November 2001
  3. ^ Stoessinger, Caroline, A century of wisdom: Lessons From the Life of Alice Herz-Sommer, the World’s Oldest Living Holocast Survivor, New York, Spiegel & Grau/Random House, 2012.
  4. ^ Caroline Stoessinger, "Never Too Old: Words of Wisdom from Alice Herz-Sommer, The World's Oldest Living Holocaust Survivor", Huffington Post, April 19, 2012
  5. ^ Caroline Stoessinger, "If Only Dad Had Read This", Huffington Post, June 16, 2012.
  6. ^ Muller, Melissa and Piechocki , Reinhard (2007) A Garden of Eden in Hell: The Life of Alice Herz-Sommer]. Macmillan; illustrated edition ISBN 978-0-230-52802-4
  7. ^ Muller, Melissa and Piechocki , Reinhard (2007) A Garden of Eden in Hell: The Life of Alice Herz-Sommer]. Macmillan; illustrated edition ISBN 978-0-230-52802-4

Further reading

Programmes and film


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