In 2017, I, Rabbi Barbara Borts, read a note about some concerts being held in my city of Newcastle upon Tyne, with music by composers who were considered 'entarte', 'degenerate', music banned by the Nazis as too modern, too corrupting, too Jewish. I had heard some of the compositions here and there, as they began to be reclaimed and performed, and I went along to the first one. I wasentranced. The music was special, intriguing, lovely, different, and it was exciting to have this music as an aspect of the commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day.

The inspired figure behind this programme was Sasha Raikhlina, a gifted violinist with the Northern Sinfornia Orchestra. She assembled a team, and thus was established the annual Brundibar Festival. I am here discussing this project with Sasha herself.