MUSIC AND 80 YEARS SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II

Today we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ a conflict that changed the world and left indelible marks not only on history but also on art. Music has become one of the most powerful means of expressing emotion, resistance and hope. The Czech music scene has a special place in this respect, as several composers who were directly influenced by the war created works that still resonate today with their power and message.

Among the most important Czech composers whose work was influenced by the war are Pavel Haas, Viktor Ullmann, Hans Krása and Gideon Klein. These artists also worked in concentration camps, where their music served as a symbol of resistance and hope. Their fates were tragic –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ most of them perished in Terezín or were deported to Auschwitz. Yet their works have survived and today are an important testament not only to their talent but also to the strength of the human spirit.

Fortunately, their music has survived and today we can remember it thanks to recordings available in the Supraphon catalogue. This archive preserves many of the compositions of these composers, and so their voice still resonates eight decades after the end of the war. Their music is not just a historical document, but still a living work of art that speaks to the listener with its depth and emotion.

In the discography of the Bennewitz Quartet we find one exceptional album that this internationally acclaimed ensemble dedicated to the music of the so-called Terezín composers Ullmann, Krása, Schulhoff and Haas. The recording has won prestigious awards, including Disc of the Week from Europadisc and Editor's Choice from Presto Classical.