Notos Quartet gives a benefit concert

Young Jews and Muslims are travelling together to Krakow and Auschwitz for the first time – Notos Quartet gives a benefit concert in aid of this in Berlin Cathedral

In mid-April the Notos Quartet became the first artists to return their controversial ECHO prize in protest. Now the four young musicians are taking another stand against anti-semitism and for international understanding.

At a benefit concert on 22nd May in Berlin Cathedral, the four quartet members hope to collect a total of EUR 20,000 in donations. The money aims to fund a group of young Jewish and Muslim adults this summer in making a five-day journey to Krakow and the memorial centre at Auschwitz.

The idea for the concert came from the Notos Quartet themselves together with Bertold Höcker, superintendent of the Evangelical parish of Berlin city centre. As a gesture of thanks to the Notos Quartet for positioning itself clearly against anti-semitism and mockery of Holocaust victims, Höcker offered the ensemble a rent-free concert in a Berlin church. The Quartet then decided that it would like to perform a benefit concert, and Berlin Cathedral was immediately delighted to get involved.

The trip is organised by the Union of Progressive Jews together with the Central Council of Muslims and takes place from 6-10 August 2018. The 22 participants are young refugee adults from Syria and Iraq who now live in Erfurt, and young Jews from Schleswig-Holstein and NRW. Accompanying them are a rabbi who is over 90 years old and an imam who is in his mid 30s. Minister presidents Bodo Ramelow and Daniel Günther will also be accompanying the group for one day in Poland.

The trip is costing circa EUR 20,000 which we hope will be raised by the benefit concert in Berlin Cathedral. The Notos Quartet will play works by Mahler, Mozart and Schumann on 22nd May at 8pm in Berlin Cathedral.

Entrance is free of charge; a generous donation would be most appreciated.