Brussels: Today at noon, the European Parliament marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day with a special address by Corrie Hermann during a plenary session. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola opened the solemn sitting, followed by a musical performance featuring P¡l Hermann’s concerto.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Corrie Hermann addressed Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and shared the story of her father, P¡l Hermann, a Hungarian-born cellist and composer who was murdered by the Nazis in 1944. The performance included his original Gagliano cello, an instrument with a history of survival comparable to its late owner.
The session included a minute’s silence observed by MEPs and concluded with a musical performance of “Kaddish” by Maurice Ravel. This year’s commemoration is significant as it marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, an event of profound historical importance.
P¡l Hermann, born in Budapest in 1902, was a student of B©la Bart³k and renowned as one of the best cellists of his era. After moving to Berlin in the 1920s, he performed across Europe. In 1933, he fled to Belgium and France to escape Nazi persecution. Arrested by the Nazis in Toulouse in 1944, Hermann managed to send a note requesting the rescue of his cherished Gagliano cello. A friend found the note and cycled 100 kilometers to save the instrument, which was later discovered 80 years later at the Queen Elisabeth Competition.
Corrie Hermann, now 92, recounted her father’s life, his tragic end, and his enduring legacy during the commemorative session. The event serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust and the resilience of those who suffered under Nazi tyranny.