Testament: The Diary of Bella Berliner

The great grandmother of Colorado Chamber Players director Barbara Hamilton was in hiding during the Nazi occupation of Holland, 1942-1945, and she survived WW II. Bella hid in Utrecht, Zeist and Amsterdam; after the war, she emigrated to the USA via Sweden, and was re-united with her family in St. Louis.  She was helped by the Dutch Resistance.

Bella Berliner’s wartime diary, translated by family members from German to English, shows poignant insights into the plight of Jews during the Holocaust. Music by some of Bella’s favorite composers (Mozart, Bach, Chopin, Weber and Brahms) is combined with excerpts from Bella’s diary, read by Colorado Shakespeare actor Mare Trevathan.  Slides of the era and historical information accompany the music, performed by Barbara Hamilton, viola and Andrew Cooperstock, piano.