On 21 November 2015 the special performance of “A Song of Good and Evil”, a piece by human rights lawyer Philippe Sands, addressed with emotional depth the remarkable fusion of the fates of three of those involved in the Nuremberg Trials – the two jurists Hersch Lauterpacht and Raphael Lemkin, and Hans Frank, Hitler’s lawyer and Governor General in occupied Poland.
Courtroom 600 provided the ideal venue for the combination of readings, images, films and music from Bach to Leonard Cohen. German actress Katja Riemann gave a striking performance before eye-witnesses to the Trials and Holocaust survivor Thomas Buergenthal.
The audience was thrilled after the performance and acknowledged the artists with standing ovations. The Nuremberg Academy thanks the artists for a unique and unforgettable event.
Katja Riemann (Narrator) is a multi award-winning film actress known for her recent roles in Er ist wieder da, Die abhandene Welt and Fackju Göhte, among many others, such as Rosenstraße. Katja has worked as a UNICEF ambassador since 1999, and is particularly committed to improving the rights of girls and women.
Philippe Sands (Narrator) is Professor of Law at University College London and a barrister at Matrix Chambers. His books include Lawless World (2005) and Torture Team (2008). This work is based on his new book East West Street: On The Origins of Genocide and Crimes against Humanity, to be published in May 2016 (Alfred A. Knopf (US), Weidenfeld & Nicolson (UK)).
Laurent Naouri (Bass-baritone) began his career in opera and recitals twenty years ago, and has performed more than forty roles, including Golaud (Pelléas and Mélisande), Falstaff and Don Giovanni. Future plans include Pelléas et Mélisande in Aix en Provence, Prokofiev’s Fiery Angel in Lyon and Tales of Hofmann at the Met.
Guillaume de Chassy (Piano) is a jazz pianist and composer, working with artists in the jazz and classical worlds, including Paul Motian, Andy Sheppard, Mark Murphy, Brigitte Engerer and Laurent Naouri. He recently released his first Piano Concerto (Beejazz Records, 2013), melding classical music and improvised jazz.
