The BBC Symphony Orchestra’s Total Immersion in music written in the prisons and ghettos of the Second World War opens with a film in testament to acts of creativity from the musicians of Terezín.
In November 1941, the Nazis started to transport Czech Jews to the ghetto town of Theresienstadt (Terezín in Czech). They came by train, 1000 people at a time. To open this Total Immersion day, Simon Broughton introduces his remarkable BBC documentary from 1993 celebrating the extraordinary cultural life of the Terezín ghetto, where creative artists found themselves ‘dancing under the gallows’.
Broughton’s film – which includes location filming at Terezín, archive footage, vivid first-hand accounts and powerful musical performances – focuses on the lost generation of Czech and Austrian composers who made music in the ghetto. They include Pavel Haas, Hans Krása and Viktor Ullmann – all murdered by the Nazis. This is the story of creativity against all odds – and masterpieces of music that resonate far beyond the walls of oppression.
The Music of Terezín. Documentary, 1993 Dir Simon Broughton 70 mins
This film will finish at approximately 12.15pm
Produced by the BBC Symphony Orchestra
Please note that this event deals with subjects of a distressing nature
Suitable for children aged 8+
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£1.50 booking fee per online/phone transaction.
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Total Immersion Day
Music for the End of Time
Cinema 1
Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.
Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS
Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.
We’ve plenty of places for you to relax and replenish, from coffee and cake to wood-fired pizzas and full pre-theatre menus
Access
Level access from the Pit floor foyer only to the two boxes (see Mobility below). All other seats lead off stepped aisles.
Mobility
Two boxes at the rear of the auditorium each have space for one wheelchair user and a companion. Please book early and ask for these seats.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs may be taken into the cinema – please tell us when booking, to ensure your seat has enough space. If you prefer, you may leave your dog with a member of the foyer staff during the performance.
Hearing facility
There is an induction loop in the auditorium. You can use this by adjusting your hearing aid to the ‘T’ setting.
For more access information, please visit our Accessibility section.
