On Wednesday, the Ayala Museum transformed into a solemn yet uplifting sanctuary where the enduring power of music bridged the gap between a painful past and a hopeful future.

In a heartfelt tribute to those who perished during the Holocaust, the event combined stirring performances with insightful commentary, proving that even in the depths of despair, the human spirit can sing its way to survival.

A compelling lecture by world-renowned cellist Dr. Kristina Reiko Cooper captivated the audience with the moving stories of two composers whose lives were indelibly marked by the horrors of Nazi oppression.

Cooper recounted the tragic yet inspiring journeys of Gideon Klein and Mieczyslaw Weinberg.

Klein, a talented Czechoslovakian pianist and composer, created his string trio and piano sonata while confined within the oppressive walls of the Theresienstadt concentration camp.

His music, born from the depths of suffering, became an act of defiance — a way to resist the silence imposed by his captors.

Cooper then shifted focus to Mieczyslaw Weinberg, a composer from Warsaw who not only lost his entire family to the atrocities of the Nazi regime but also faced repression under Stalin.

Despite these overwhelming adversities, Weinberg survived to produce an expansive canon of works, including his evocative Fantasy for Cello and Orchestra and a poignant Piano Quintet.

Her performance of these pieces was both a tribute and a reminder: even amidst overwhelming tragedy, creativity persists, transforming grief into a legacy of resilience.

Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss recalled how, during the Holocaust, Jews found solace in the melodies crafted in ghettos, concentration camps and hiding places.

“These were not just songs,” he emphasized, “but the voices of those who refused to be silenced. For many who suffered and perished, these compositions are the only memories that remain.”

Fluss went on to underscore the dual role of music as both a repository of memory and a beacon of hope.

“The State of Israel and the Jewish people bear the weight of a heavy history,” he noted, “but even in our deepest sorrow, we have composed. Our music has spoken when words failed.”

He reminded that 27 January — designated by the United Nations as International Holocaust Remembrance Day — serves as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed, as well as a call to ensure that such hatred never takes root again.

Where the past continually shapes the present, the music of those who lived — and those who were lost — will forever serve as a call for remembrance and renewal.