Roxanne de Bastion Revives Grandfather's Holocaust-Silenced Music Through Book and Album

Singer-songwriter Roxanne de Bastion is honoring her Hungarian grandfather, Stephen de Bastion, by bringing his music back to life. Stephen, a pianist and composer, survived the Holocaust, but his music was silenced by the war. Roxanne has written a book, 'The Piano Player of Budapest,' and recorded an album to restore and reimagine his compositions.

Stephen de Bastion, also known as Istvan Bastyai Holtzer, was a successful pianist in Hungary before World War II. His career came to a halt when he was sent to the front as a forced laborer in 1942. He suffered horrific abuse and was eventually deported to concentration camps, where he clung to life for over a year until liberation.

This story highlights the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of Holocaust survivors and the impact of war on individuals and communities. By sharing her grandfather's story, Roxanne de Bastion ensures that his legacy lives on and underscores the dangers of scapegoating and the importance of empathy.

After her father's death in 2019, Roxanne discovered a treasure trove of memorabilia, including handwritten sheet music, concert pamphlets, and original film scripts from the 1930s, plus boxes of aging cassette tapes. Among these items was a recording of Stephen's war story, which Roxanne listened to posthumously, feeling as though she was getting to know her grandfather through time.

The family has a piano that has been in their possession since 1905, played by Stephen before the war. This piano, which survived the war, holds great sentimental value. Roxanne teamed up with guitarist and producer Simon Tong and pianist Xenia Pestova Bennett to digitize Stephen's recordings and create a new album based on his music. They recorded some of his compositions on this original piano, using his original sheet music.

Stephen's story serves as a painful illustration of the dangers of scapegoating and the importance of empathy. His survival story is full of incredible twists of fate and highlights the resilience of the human spirit. Roxanne's efforts to restore and reimagine his music ensure that his legacy lives on.

Roxanne's book, 'The Piano Player of Budapest,' and the accompanying album are being released this week, bringing Stephen's silenced music back to life. This project not only honors her grandfather's memory but also serves as a powerful tribute to all Holocaust survivors and their stories.

Key Takeaways

• Roxanne de Bastion honors her Hungarian grandfather, Stephen, by reviving his music silenced by the Holocaust.
• Stephen, a pianist and composer, survived the war but his music was lost until Roxanne discovered his memorabilia.
• Roxanne wrote a book and recorded an album to restore and reimagine her grandfather's compositions.
• The project highlights the importance of preserving Holocaust survivors' cultural heritage and promoting empathy.
• The book and album, "The Piano Player of Budapest," are being released, bringing Stephen's music back to life.