Note to Correspondents

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL RAOUL WALLENBERG

FOUNDATION’S ‘PARTNERS OF HOPE’ CONCERT AT CARNEGIE HALL

 

Honouring Bravery and Humanitarianism:  Stories of Rescue during Holocaust

The Department of Public Information’s Holocaust and the United Nations outreach programme is collaborating with the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation on the “Partners of Hope” concert at Carnegie Hall on 5 February at 8 p.m.  This concert will recognize those who displayed extraordinary courage to save Jews from genocide during World War II.  Shashi Tharoor, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, will highlight the role of the then National Assembly of Bulgaria in preventing the deportation of Bulgarian Jews, saving nearly all Bulgarian Jews from certain death.

Among other notables participating in the event include Ambassador Dan Gillerman, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, who will read biographical excerpts on the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg.  The Holocaust and the United Nations outreach programme and the Raoul Wallenberg Foundation share a common mission to promote education and public awareness to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust -– those both of tragedy and of heroism -– are passed on to future generations.  The concert is held in connection with the United Nations Holocaust Remembrance Week.

The musical programme will feature the Westfield Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Wroe, who will present the world premier of the poetry of Hyam Plutzik (1911-1962) which deals extensively with Jewish themes, anti-Semitism and humanism set to music by Robert Cohen.  The evening’s repertoire also includes Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K.550”, excerpts from Giacomo Puccini’s “La Boheme” and Gaetano Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” sung by Bulgarian soprano Anna Veleva and selected songs by Israeli singer David Broza.  Holocaust survivors, middle and high school students are offered tickets free of charge.

For tickets, please visit www.irwf.org or call 212 737 3275.  For information on the Holocaust and the United Nations outreach programme, please visit its website at www.un.org/holocaustremembrance.

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For information media • not an official record