Anita Lasker, a Holocaust survivor, credits her cello playing with saving her life while imprisoned at Auschwitz.

Deported to Auschwitz in December 1943 at the age of 18, Lasker endured the trauma of having her head shaved and being tattooed with a number.

The orchestra, initiated by camp overseer Maria Mandl, performed for Nazi officials and provided some privileges to its members, creating a semblance of normalcy amid horror.

Sebba's book, published on March 27, 2025, aims to memorialize the orchestra members by sharing their stories and humanizing their experiences in Auschwitz.

Upon revealing her musical talent, Lasker was unexpectedly invited to join the orchestra, which ultimately aided her survival.

Sebba, who has a personal connection to the Holocaust through her father, who was involved in liberating Bergen-Belsen, sheds light on the stories of these remarkable women.

Despite facing horrific conditions, the orchestra offered a distraction from daily suffering, allowing musicians to form strong bonds that helped them endure their ordeal.

The ensemble comprised women from various countries, many of whom were young and inexperienced musicians, yet they found solace in their shared experiences.

Alma Rosé, the orchestra's conductor and niece of composer Gustav Mahler, played a crucial role in advocating for the rights of its members.

Controversy surrounds Rosé's legacy, with differing accounts of her leadership style; Lasker-Wallfisch's memoir clarifies her role as a strict but necessary figure.

Only a few members of the orchestra survived, and author Anna Sebba interviewed Lasker-Wallfisch and another survivor, Hilde Grünbaum, before her passing in 2023.