[...] Here in the camp, given the lack of a piano, he is absolutely unable to play and practice the necessary exercises. The writer finds himself in this special situation unlike all the other professionals [...] in this specific case, the undersigned, not practising and not being able to continue his musical studies, loses the technique and ability to play, finding himself in a situation, which is worsening day by day. Thus, since he has to stay here in the camp for a few more months, he is seriously threatened with the possibility of exercising his favourite art in the future, which represents for him in every respect the content and purpose of his life. In view of all the above, the undersigned takes the liberty of respectfully petitioning the Honourable Ministry to kindly grant him a transfer to some place in the Kingdom where there is a piano and where he could practise and continue his studies.
The setting: ‘A furious love of music’
Bogdan Zins was an exceptional pianist, composer, concert pianist, conductor, musician, businessman and lawyer. For him, music was a profound part of human nature, not just entertainment but nourishment capable of keeping the Jewish people alive, even in prison camp confinement.
The setting celebrates the Jewish pianist with the giant picture of him together with the German baritone Siegbert Steinfeld in the Ferramonti camp, for the Farewell Concert on 5 April 1942.
On the side, the ‘Piano Plea’, a letter in which Bogdan Zins, in 1941, requests a transfer to the Ministry of the Interior so that he can reach some place in the Kingdom where there is a piano.
The installation: "Soniche visioni olografiche"
Created by artist Roberto Pugliese, whose research is positioned between sound art and kinetic and programmed art, Soniche Visioni olografiche recounts – through the optical illusion of holographic projection and the sound reproduction of Anton Arensky’s Composition No. 32 in D minor, of which Zins was particularly fond – the insatiable desire to play and to celebrate the ecstasy that music can give. Even at a time of such immense madness and barbarism as the Holocaust.
Credits
Project realised for the Palatucci Museum in Campagna with the contribution of the UOD 50.12.01 Promotion and Enhancement of Museums and Libraries of the Campania Region – General Directorate for Social and Cultural Policies, with co-financing from the Municipality of Campagna, scientific advice by Raffaele Deluca and holographic installation by Roberto Pugliese.
