Alma Rachmanowa Plaque

Standing here in Vienna’s 15th district, facing a simple brass plaque embedded in the wall, you are looking at a tribute to the remarkable life and tragic fate of Alma Rosée. This plaque serves not only as a memorial to a gifted musician but also as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of the Nazi regime on individuals and their families. Born into a family of renowned musicians, her father, Arnold Rosée, was the concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic and a celebrated violinist. With such illustrious roots, Alma Rosée’s musical talent blossomed early. Her debut as a soloist in Bad Ischl in 1920 marked the beginning of a promising career, and she went on to perform at prestigious venues such as the Musikverein in Vienna under her father’s direction. But the shadow of the Nazi regime loomed large. With the Anschluss in 1938, her family faced persecution and were forced to flee their homeland. Alma Rosée, however, chose to stay in Europe, venturing first to France and later to the Netherlands, hoping to escape the growing threat. But fate had a cruel twist in store. In the Netherlands, Alma Rosée was apprehended and sent to the Westerbork concentration camp. From there, she was deported to Auschwitz in 1943, where she was forced to play in an orchestra of female prisoners, conducted by Maria Mandl, a notorious SS warden. Although the orchestra provided some respite from the harsh realities of the camp, the prisoners, including Alma Rosée, were always under threat. Tragically, Alma Rosée died in Auschwitz on April 5, 1944, her life cut short by the brutality of the Nazi regime. The plaque on this wall, a simple inscription in a bustling street, serves as a poignant reminder of her talent, courage, and the enduring power of music. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, music can offer both solace and resistance.