© Marion Davies

Prague-born Jewish pianist and music teacher Alice Herz-Sommer (1903-2014) was a survivor of Theresienstadt concentration camp. She lived for 40 years in Israel, before moving to London in 1986, where she resided until her death at the age of 110.

Marion Davies comments, ‘I met Alice Herz-Sommer three times in her small flat in Belsize Park. On the first occasion in 2006, we chatted and although she rarely played in front of anyone anymore, she agreed to sit by the piano so that I could take a photo. She then started playing for a magical half an hour; during most of this, I listened, unable to move, until I remembered that I should take a few photos.

On the second occasion Alice told my poet colleague, Jane Liddell-King, and myself more of her story. On the third occasion, we both returned, and Jane read the poem that she had written and dedicated to Alice. This photograph was taken as Alice listened and commented on the poem’.