Autographed and inscribed original 8.25” x 10” presentation photograph of the Czech composer and Holocaust victim, November 28, 1933.

Karel (November 9, 1880 - March 6, 1945) was a Jewish, Czech composer.  Born in Pilsen to a poor family, he was sent to study at the Prague Conservatory in 1899.  His main professors were Antonin Dvorak for composition and Josef Klicka for Organ.  He was one of Dvorak’s last pupils as Dvorak passed away in 1904, the year he graduated.

The composer was a Romantic in his idiom.  He wrote three operas, four symphonies, smaller orchestral works, chamaber music including three string quartets and a theme and variation for piano.  He joined the resistance when the Nazi’s came to Prague in 1939 and was arrested in March, 1943.  He was sent to the Pankrac Prison for two years and then transferred to Theresientstadt Concentration Camp in late January 1945 and he died of dysentery a month later.

While he was in Theresienstadt, he worked on his final opera, “Three Hairs of the Wise Old Man”, written on toilet paper, it was passed to a guard who eventually gave it to his pupil Zbynek Vostrak, who orchestrated it.  His works receive performances in composer of the Shoah concerts and recordings.  His Nonet, also written while he was imprisoned appears to be the most performed and recorded.  There is a recording of the 4th Symphony on YouTube.  The work was written in 1921 and is truly an homage to his teacher Antonin Dvorak and will worth your listening time.

A real hero of the Holocaust.

Completely scarce in autographed photographs.