Alma Rosé was a renowned violinist and conductor who was born on November 3, 1906, in Vienna, Austria. She was the daughter of Arnold Rosé, a famous violinist and conductor, and Justine Mahler, the sister of composer Gustav Mahler. Alma grew up in a musical family and began playing the violin at a young age. She received her early training from her father and later studied with Carl Flesch and Julius Winkler. In 1924, Alma made her debut as a soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. She quickly gained a reputation as a talented and passionate performer, and she went on to perform with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. In addition to her solo career, Alma was also a dedicated chamber musician. She was a founding member of the Rosé Quartet, which was named after her father and included her brother, Oscar Rosé, on the viola. The quartet was highly regarded for its performances of the works of Beethoven, Brahms, and Schubert. In 1933, Alma's life took a dramatic turn when the Nazis came to power in Germany. As a Jew, she was no longer able to perform in public, and her father was forced to resign from his position as conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic. In 1938, Alma was arrested and sent to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, where she was put in charge of the camp's orchestra. Despite the horrific conditions of the camp, Alma was determined to keep the orchestra alive. She worked tirelessly to rehearse and perform with the musicians, and she even managed to smuggle in some sheet music and instruments. The orchestra became a symbol of hope and resistance for the prisoners, and they were able to perform for the International Red Cross in 1944. Sadly, Alma's health began to deteriorate in the final months of the war, and she died of typhus on April 4, 1944, just a few weeks before the camp was liberated by the Soviet army. She was buried in an unmarked grave in the camp's cemetery. Despite her tragic end, Alma's legacy lives on through her music and her dedication to the arts. In 1995, the Alma Rosé Quartet was re-formed in her honor, and they continue to perform and record today. In addition, the Alma Rosé Foundation was established to support young musicians and promote the memory of Alma's life and work. Alma Rosé was a true artist and a hero, who used her talent and her passion for music to bring hope and comfort to those who were suffering. Her story is a testament to the power of music and the resilience of the human spirit.

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