Berliner Philharmoniker to Honor Exiled Jewish Musicians

The "stumbling stones" will honor the memories of four string players who were forced into exile by the Nazi regime

On May 10, 2025, the Berliner Philharmoniker will lay four new Stolpersteine ("stumbling stones") in front of the Philharmonie Berlin, in memory of four members of the orchestra. Following the ceremony, there will be a memorial concert to mark the occasion.

In 1933, the orchestra's concertmaster Szymon Goldberg, violinist Gilbert Back, and cellists Nicolai Graudan and Joseph Schuster were all systematically marginalized by the Nazi regime, and ultimately forced into exile. At the concert, presenter Shelly Kupferberg will discuss the lives and work of these four musicians.

The concert will feature four movements of solo Bach, played by violinist Krzysztof Polonek and cellist Ludwig Quandt. Also on the program are two works which were banned under the Nazi regime: Erwin Schulhoff's Five Pieces for String Quartet, as well as Felix Mendelssohn's String Quartet in D major, op. 44 no. 1. Both pieces will be performed by the Varian Fry Quartet.

The laying of the Stolpersteine is open to the public, and will take place at 3pm. The Artist Gunter Demnig will lay the four stones outside the entrance to the hall, in the direction of Potsdamer Straße.The concert will follow at 4pm, and audience members should donate at least €5 to the Margot Friedländer Foundation.

You can find out more and book tickets here.