A

late grandfather’s Holocaust memo-
ries inspired choices for an upcom-
ing digital concert featuring violinist 
Arnaud Sussmann accompanied by pianist 
Michael Brown. The two will perform endur-
ing music of five composers who also experi-
enced Holocaust atrocities.
“
A Violin Tribute to the Holocaust” features 
pieces by Erwin Schulhoff, Robert Dauber, 
Pavel Haas, Samuel Adler and Mieczyslaw 
Weinberg starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 
8. The free program will be hosted by the 
Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington 
Hills with community partners Detroit Public 

TV
, WRCJ and the Center for Jewish Studies 
at Eastern Michigan University.
Viewers will also be presented with a per-
former interview session led by Dave Wagner, 
WRCJ program director and radio host.
“In recent years, I have had an ever-grow-
ing desire to pay homage to my grandfather,” 
said Sussmann, 36, who has presented similar 
programs titled “Jewish Voices” and recently 
made a recording with the same title. “The 
best way I could honor him is by putting 
together a program featuring composers 
whose voices were silenced in the Holocaust.”
Schulhoff, Dauber and Haas died in con-

centration camps. Although Weinberg was 
able to escape by fleeing east, his family 
was murdered. Adler, a composer who was 
Brown’s composition teacher at Julliard, fled 
Germany after Kristallnacht. 
Sussmann is artistic director of the 
Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach and a 
part-time teacher at Stony Brook University 
in New York state. He also serves as co-direc-
tor of Music@Menlo’s International Program, 
a chamber music program for college-age 
musicians.
Before concentrating on the violin, 
Sussmann learned piano.
“I felt such a strong connection to violin,” 
he explained. “I loved to practice from an 
early age. By 14, I started traveling in France, 
where I grew up, to study in various schools 
and conservatories, and I moved to New York 
in 2001, right before turning 17, to study at 
the Juilliard School with Itzhak Perlman.”
International touring has taken Sussmann 
to Michigan venues. He appeared with the 
Grand Rapids Symphony in 2016 and joined 
many times with the Chamber Music Society 
of Lincoln Center at the St. Cecilia Music 
Center in Grand Rapids, where he will return 
next season.
Like other performers, Sussmann had to 
learn new techniques due to the pandemic.
“We’ve all had to pivot and find ways to 
produce and promote our art forms differ-
ently,” he said. “I’ve had to learn about the 
entire recording process, from setting up 
microphones to recording software as well as 
editing. 
“It’s been a great learning experience, and 
I’m thankful I was able to expand my skill set 
this past year.”
The works planned for his Michigan audi-
ence include Schulhoff’s “Suite for Violin and 
Piano, Op. 1” (1911); Dauber’s “Serenade” 
(1942); Haas’ “Suite for Oboe and Piano, Op. 
17” (arranged for violin and piano) (1939); 
Adler’s “Lullaby” (based on a Hebrew folk 
tune) (1984); and Weinberg’s “Rhapsody on 
Moldavian Themes, Op. 47” (1949).
“Michael Brown is a dear friend and won-
derful pianist, and we have been colleagues 
and musical partners for many years,” said 
Sussmann, married to video producer Pauline 
Hadad and the father of an infant son. “I 
asked him a few months ago if he would be 
willing to join me in recording this program.”
During the conversation, Sussmann wel-
comes questions about his musical life as well 
as the concert being performed. 

COURTESY OF ARNAUD SUSSMANN

HMC to host digital program
starring Arnaud Sussmann.

40 | JUNE 3 • 2021 

A Violin Tribute to 
Holocaust Victims

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ARTS&LIFE
MUSIC

Arnaud Sussmann
Details

Arnaud Sussmann’s free 
digital program begins 
at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 
8. To register, go to holo-
caustcenter.org/violin. 
Viewers are asked to 
consider donations to the 
Holocaust Center at 
holocaustcenter.org/
support.

