Description
Object description
German civilian in Berlin, Germany, 1914-1939; emigrated to GB, 1939; worked as gardener in GB, 1939-1945; post-war career as singer, teacher and language coach at Morley College, Guildhall School of Music and Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London, GB.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in Berlin, Germany, 1914-1939: family background and childhood; education; attitude to going to Jewish school; story of being dismissed from non-Jewish school; story of being caned by anti-Semitic teacher; problem of anti-Semitism and assaults; description of activities with Jewish youth group; attitude to Zionism; observed Jewish and Christian festivals; began singing lessons; importance of German culture; story of joining communist youth group age seven; reaction to Hitler coming to power, 1933; story of parents hiding communists and illegal printing press in house; story of parents disappearance; musical and recreational activities; left school 1936.
REEL 2 Continues: effect of Nazi regime on daily life; attitude to emigration; reason for passport being taken away; story of father's arrest and imprisonment; story of attending Jewish domestic school; attitude to German nationality; relations with other school children; description of employment in Jewish jewellery shop; story of jewellery shop being daubed with gallows and destroyed during Kristallnacht, 11/1938; description of domestic work for elderly Jewish couple; story of being ordered by Gestapo to leave and obtaining emergency permit; preparations for emigration; description of train journey with mother and sister across Germany to Ostend and by boat to Dover, GB, 24-25/May/1939. Aspects of period in GB, 1939-1945: attitude to leaving Germany; first impressions of England; story of obtaining accommodation with family of cinema organist Sidney Torch in London; description of employment as gardener at boarding school in Sussex and at Bunce Court School for Refugees in Shrewsbury; musical activities; appeared before tribunal but not interned.
REEL 3 Continues: description of mother and sister's employment; story of interview with Adrian Boult in Bristol and singing audition at the Royal College of Music, 1941; description of employment as gardener in private house and at market garden in Golders Green; accommodation in London; story about mother and gold necklace; reaction to outbreak of war, 3/Sep/1939; description of war work as gardener; further comments on domestic school in Berlin; continued with music lessons. Aspects of period in London, GB, 1945-1997: story of studying at Royal College of Music and Guildhall School of Music, 1947-1951; part-time employment; friends and social life with other refugees.
REEL 4 Continues: description of musical activities as singer, teacher and language coach at Morley College, Guildhall School of Music and Royal Opera House Covent Garden; reason for ending professional singing career; amusing story about singing with Otto Klemperer during rehearsal.