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Composer of the Week marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz with a series commemorating some of the musical voices that were silenced by the atrocities of the Second World War. Across the week, Donald Macleod focuses on the penultimate destination of these musicians, the concentration camp at Terezin, and the incredible story of creative resistance in the face of unthinkable adversity and persecution which unfolded there.

Today, we meet Hans Krása. His peers might have described him as privileged, bohemian and lazy – his output was small – but what he did write made an indelible impact. We hear the story of Brundibár -an opera which became an anthem for the children of Terezin and found itself at the heart of an infamous Nazi propaganda film.

Brundibár Suite (VII. Allegro molto)
Nash Ensemble

Tanec for String Trio
Black Oak Ensemble

Kammermusik for Harpsichord and 7 Instruments
Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Alexander Liebreich, conductor

Theme and Variations for String Quartet (1935)
Bennewitz Quartet

Three Songs to texts of Arthur Rimbaud
Christian Gerhaher, baritone
Ib Hausmann, clarinet
Philip Dukes, viola
Josephine Knight, cello

Brundibár: Act II
Disman Radio Children’s Ensemble, Prague
Joža Karas, conductor

Produced by Amelia Parker for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Audio Wales and West