Papi & Alfred "Pepi Fandango"
D'Salon

Music as a Lifeline

Oct 14, 2024, 6.30 PM @ Festival Center D'24

Event language: English

Singer-songwriter and author Roxanne de Bastion and Holocaust survivor Pepi Pérez will talk about how art and music have helped them through the most difficult times of their lives and what contribution they can make to remembrance. De Bastion’s book The Piano Player of Budapest tells the story of how her grandfather and his piano survived the Holocaust.

To accompany the book, Roxanne de Bastion has recorded an album of grandfather's music together with guitarist Simon Tong (The Verve / Damon Albarn). Songs from the Piano Player of Budapest consists of restored original recordings, pre-recorded works using her grandfather's original piano and sheet music, as well as reimagined works. (Listen now on Spotify: Link) Roxanne will perform two songs from this album, bringing her grandfather's music back to life as well as shining a light on his story.

The talk will be followed by the film Pepi Fandango, about Pepi Pérez’ life and his search to find the fandango, which he learned from Roma children in a concentration camp.

Tickets

D'Salon
Oct 14
6.30 PM
Festival Center D'24

Program Info

Conversation

Guests

Roxanne de Bastion

Roxanne de Bastion is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and artist advocate. Her music has been praised by critics and artists alike, and she's toured internationally. She's also active in promoting artists' rights, serving on boards and hosting a radio show. Her first book, The Piano Player of Budapest, shares the story of her grandfather.

Pérez Peter René

Born 1936/Vienna into a large Jewish-Spanish-Catholic family. Separate flight Nuclear family 1938, first to Paris, then on to southern France. Early 1941 Committed to Rivesaltes concentration camp with separate custody. Sept. 1942 released to La Caunette lignite mine (Hérault). Returned to AT as refugees in 1948. School Lycée Français, followed by physics studies TU Vienna, then EDP in the Austrian oil industry. Married in 1974, 2 children, widowed in 1999. Jan. 2024 Contemporary witness speech.

Media in this event

The Piano Player of Budapest tells the moving story of Stephen de Bastion, a Jewish pianist who endured immense suffering during the Holocaust. His granddaughter Roxanne discovers his hidden diary, learning about his incredible struggle for survival and his unwavering love for music.
Viennese musician and Holocaust survivor Peter Pérez sets off with his best friend in search of the fandango, which he learned from Roma children in a concentration camp. An epic road movie that combines pain and the healing power of music.
6.30 PM Conversation
7.30 PM Music Performance
7.40 PM Film Screening
9.00 PM Get-Together

Tickets

D'Salon
Oct 14
6.30 PM
Festival Center D'24

Festival Center D'24

Kantstraße 17
10623 Berlin
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