Into Eternity - A tribute to Vilma Grunwald met Maya Fridman, Bella Adamova, Belinfante Quartet e.a.
Into Eternity is based on the farewell letter of Vilma Grunwald, which she wrote moments before her death in Auschwitz. The project is a tribute to her to commemorate the courage and love she expressed. INTO ETERNITY is an evening-filling immersive concert with Bella Adamova (contralto), Maya Fridman (cello, voice), Belinfante Quartet, Michael Hesselink (clarinet), Jacobus Thiele (percussion) & Marion von Tilzer (composition, & piano). This program is part of the series ‘Meetings with Remarkable Women’ and will be performed around Remembrance Day. https://stadsherstel.nl/cultuuragenda/albumpresentatie-into-eternity/
Into Eternity - A tribute to Vilma Grunwald met Maya Fridman, Bella Adamova, Belinfante Quartet e.a.
About
‘Into Eternity’ is a story of absolute sadness yet it speaks to us of the human capacity for love, it speaks of courage, trust and confidence, as told by a woman facing her death in the Holocaust. In the letter to her husband, Vilma shines a light on the core of accepting circumstance without losing the belief in life's beauty, hope in its goodness and trusting wholeheartedly that love carries us through and beyond the end. This project is part of 'Meetings with Remarkable Women – music inspired by women's lives', a series of interdisciplinary art projects by composer/pianist Marion von Tilzer.
English translation of Vilma's letter (original Czech):
"You, my only one, dearest, in isolation we are waiting for darkness. We considered the possibility of hiding but decided not to do it since we felt it would be hopeless. The famous trucks are already here, and we are waiting for it to begin. I am completely calm. You - my only and dearest one, do not blame yourself for what happened, it was our destiny. We did what we could. Stay healthy and remember my words that time will heal - if not completely then at least partially. Take care of the little golden boy and don't spoil him too much with your love. Both of you - stay healthy, my dear ones. I will be thinking of you and Misa. Have a fabulous life, we must board the trucks. Into eternity, Yours, Vilma.” (dated July 11, 1944)
Link to the song on Vilma’s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvbZBLl_Lyg
https://perspectives.ushmm.org/item/letter-from-vilma-grunwald-to-kurt-grunwald
Frank Grunwald (1932), Vilma’s surviving son about the project ‘INTO ETERNITY: ‘…It is so exciting to hear about the completion of the musical composition inspired by my mother’s letter. One of my concerns has always been that my mother will be forgotten, but now - with her letter in the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and the musical performances composed on her behalf - those concerns are gone.’