Moving revue A Song for Esther” honors Auschwitz survivor Bejarano

Moving revue A Song for Esther” honors Auschwitz survivor Bejarano

On October 4, 2025, Hamburg experienced an impressive homage to Auschwitz survivor and anti-fascist Esther Bejarano. The revue “A Song for Esther”, conceived by the artist Candice Breitz, took place in the well-attended Kampnagel. Breitz had the unique idea of ​​not only honoring Bejarano, but also tracing her life journey through elaborate videos and personal letters, which were read out by international artists during the event. It was an evening that celebrated the diversity of art and music while recalling the dark history of the past.

Joanna Warsza, the city curator in Hamburg, played a crucial role by inviting Breitz to develop a performative work for the “Memorial against Fascism” in Hamburg-Harburg. In her letters to Bejarano, Breitz reflected on the conflicts that Jewish women experienced in the country of the perpetrators. Bejarano, who was born in Saarlouis in 1924, survived the Holocaust by playing the accordion in the Auschwitz girls' orchestra. She viewed her return to music, particularly “Bel Ami,” as a powerful act of survival and a kind of “revenge” against her past.

A diverse musical heritage

The revue offered a wide range of interpretations of the war hit “Bel Ami” and brought together impressive artists such as Aeham Ahmad, Microphone Mafia, Chicks on Speed ​​and Peaches. Breitz, in collaboration with Bejarano's descendants, had developed a dialogue that encompassed various musical styles. These performances not only showcased Bejarano's legacy as a musician, but also as an active fighter against fascism and racism. Until her death in 2021, Bejarano worked tirelessly, giving concerts characterized by political rap songs.

However, the revue was not only a homage to Bejarano, but also a powerful statement against contemporary anti-Semitism and the occupation of the Palestinians by the committed artists. This included parts of the discourse program entitled *“Memorial Against Fascism Yesterday and Today”*, which on the same evening offered a deep insight into the current challenges in dealing with extreme ideologies.

Antifascism in focus

Another significant active anti-fascism event will take place on May 14, 2025. The event with the title *“partizan★ke art: recalling antifascist spirits”* is aimed at a broader audience and offers performative interventions, joint lecture performances and workshops. The venue is the Viktor Adler Market, stand 129. This event is led by prominent personnel from the art scene, including Nataša Mackuljak, who deals with the historical connection between anti-fascist actions and feminist performance art, and Elena Messner, who deals with the effect of translations in feminist newspapers.

Such initiatives initiate an important discourse about the legacy of the anti-fascist women fighters of the Second World War, while at the same time significantly emphasizing the relevance of these issues for modern political movements. It turns out that the memory of personalities like Esther Bejarano is not only committed to the past, but also remains important for current and future generations.