Anita Lasker-Wallfisch (b. 1925)

Music has played an enormous part in Anita’s long life. When war broke out in 1939, she was already an accomplished cellist. In December 1943, Anita, then aged eighteen, and her younger sister – the sole surviving members of their close family – were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Anita played in the Women’s Orchestra of the camp, day in and day out, playing as the labour force set out to work each morning and as they returned in the evening. She ultimately credits the orchestra with her survival. A year later she and her sister found themselves in the horrors of Bergen-Belsen, from where on 15 April 1945 they were liberated by British Troops.

Anita continued her cello studies in London and went on to become a founding member of the English Chamber Orchestra.

Peter Kuhfeld has painted three portraits on one canvas – two are based on photographs of Anita with her cello, from the Lasker family album brought to England by Anita’s elder sister before the war.