Commemorative Stones for Vienna Philharmonic Victims of the Shoah

On March 28, 2023, Daniel Froschauer, chairman of the Vienna Philharmonic, will commemorate all orchestra members and their families who were victims of the Shoah and National Socialism.

To this end, 17 commemorative stones have been produced, which will in the coming months be placed in front of those last residences listed in records maintained in the Historical Archives of the Vienna Philharmonic.

The commemorative stones were presented to the orchestra members during a rehearsal at the Vienna Musikverein on February 17, 2022.

According to Daniel Froschauer, "These stones represent sites of remembrance that are intended to return to the victims the honor that was at one time denied them, and to exhort future generations to vigilance. Each of these stones recalls the life story of a musician who for racist and ideological reasons was stigmatized as a stranger, even though he was one of us. For the realization of this project, we are particularly indebted to Univ.-Prof. DDr. Oliver Rathkolb for his scholarly counsel, as well as the Steine des Gedenkens association and its chairman DI Thomas Breth and vice-chairman Mag. Gerhard Burda, who in a voluntary capacity have coordinated the details of the production of the stones and their installation."  

An hour of remembrance will be held on March 28, 2023.