James Simon

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German-Jewish composer, pianist and musicologist, called the "Lost Composer" because many of his compositions remain unperformed. However, some of Simon's piano pieces, songs and his opera Frau im Stein (1918) (based on Rolf Lauckner’s work) were published. His Lamento für Cello und piano (in jemenitischer Weise), Meinem Lieber Martin! (17/18. XII. 1938) was premiered in Prague by Czech cellist František Brikcius as part of the "Weinberger Tour" on 23 April 2007 at the Spanish Synagogue. A cantata, Ein Pilgermorgen (A Pilgrim’s Morning, 1929-1930) for soprano, tenor, baritone, chorus and orchestra to a text by Rilke, survives in manuscript. James Simon was born into a Jewish family in Berlin and murdered in Auschwitz in 1944 following his internment at Theresienstadt. He studied at the Musikhochschule in Berlin piano (C. Ansorge) and composition (Max Bruch). In 1934 he was forced to leave Germany to Zurich, later Amsterdam where he was arrested and deported to Theresienstadt. From there, on 12 October 1944, James Simon boarded the transport to Auschwitz and died in a gas chamber shortly after his arrival. On 14 October 1944, he was officially declared dead, aged 64. He was last seen sitting on his suitcase composing music. Link to Wikipedia biography