This bronze portrait bust is the work of Robert Berks (1922 – 2011), an accomplished sculptor of busts and monuments of many notable figures including a USA President John F. Kennedy bust, Albert Einstein Memorial, and Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial in Washington DC, USA, to name a few. 

This bust honours Pablo Casals (1876 – 1973), the celebrated cellist, composer, and conductor from Spain who was generally regarded as one of the greatest cellists of all time. Casals came to perform at the United Nations on 24 Oct 1971 for the UN’s 25th anniversary. 

The music performance included a special hymn set to music composed by Pablo Casals and words composed by W.H. Auden (1907 – 1973). Auden wrote on topics of politics, love and religion and was highlighted in a 1994 film with his poem, “Stop all the Clocks.”

The Hymn titled “A Hymn to the UN” was set into action by United Nations Secretary-General U Thant and his friend Casals. Both needed someone to create the words and Auden accomplished the poem in 3 days. Then Casals set it to music. SG Thant wanted a message to praise peace and not victories of war. 

The sculpture was dedicated by Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim at a ceremony held in the Visitors' Lobby of the General Assembly building on 11 March 1977. The bust is on permanent loan to the UN from the UN International School (UNIS). The portrait bust was done from life when Casals was at the UN in 1971.