Berlin Philharmonic’s Principal Violist Draws Attention to Hamas’ Hostages

Amihai Grosz’s performance of Partos’ “Remember” has been shared to draw attention to his nephew being held hostage by Hamas

With his permission, the Israel Camerata Orchestra Jerusalem has posted Berlin Philharmonic principal violist Amihai Grosz’s performance of Yizkor (“Remember”) for viola and strings by Oedoen Pártos.

The performance on YouTube has been shared as a means of drawing attention to those being held hostage in Gaza by the militant group Hamas. 

Grosz’s 16-year-old nephew, Amit Shani, is among 200 Israelis who were kidnapped from their homes and bases.  

Amit Shani (Image courtesy: Zohar Weisman/Facebook)

“These past few days, I have been silent and speechless. My beloved cousin’s son, Amit Shani has been taken hostage by Hamas together with many other men, women and children,” Grosz wrote on Facebook. “Our pain is beyond what can be described in words. We are determined to believe that they will be all brought back safely as soon as possible. Please keep your thoughts and prayers with us in these dark times.”

Written in 1946, Yizkor is most associated with the memory of the Holocaust in the Israeli repertoire. The video below was recorded in January 2020 in the Jerusalem Theatre, Henry Crown Hall, with conductor Boian Videnoff.

“The piece is always moving and relevant, and especially so in these difficult days,” the Israeli Camerata posted on Facebook. “We send a prayer from here to all of them, and pray for Amichai and all the other families whose loved ones are being held there, that they will return home safely soon. We do not forget you all for a moment.”

ÖDÖN PÁRTOS | YIZKOR FOR VIOLA AND ORCHESTRA | AMIHAI GROSZ |  ISRAEL CAMERATA ORCHESTRA JERUSALEM | 2020