Stolen Songs

The inspiration behind Stolen Songs comes from the story of German violinist Alois Rosetz and his Latvian wife, Solomea Graudan - two artists whose lives and careers in Berlin were tragically erased. At the end of the Second World War, an old Hopf violin emerged as the sole surviving possession of Alois Rosetz. All other belongings, including a valuable Bergonzi violin and two Steinway grand pianos, had been seized by the Gestapo and were never recovered. These five songs are a tribute to the memories of these two individuals and all that they had lost. © Huw Watkins 2025