TROTZ ALLER WIDERSTÄNDE – DER JÜDISCHE KULTURBUND IN NAZI-DEUTSCHLAND

In the organizer's words:

New Music Ensemble Aachen and Jochen Deuticke

Saturday, 14.12.24 at 8 pm Ballroom in the Altes Kurhaus Aachen

Concert and reading to commemorate the pogrom night

With this concert, we commemorate the Reichspogromnacht and pay tribute to the remarkable cultural work of Jewish artists that continued despite the repressive policies of the Nazi regime in Germany. The focus is on the "Cultural Association of German Jews", which was forced to change its name to the "Jewish Cultural Association" in 1935. Shortly after the National Socialists seized power, the Kulturbund offered one of the last opportunities for Jewish artists to remain artistically active and find work. At the same time, it enabled the Jewish population to continue to experience art and culture in a protected environment. The first organization was founded in Berlin, soon followed by others in Cologne, Frankfurt and Hamburg. In 1941, the "Jewish Cultural Association" was finally banned by the National Socialists. The event combines the information conveyed by the reading with the music that is played between the texts. Musically, we would like to present works by composers who were associated with the Kulturbund, who were represented in the concert programs of the time or - as in the case of Karl Wiener - who held a position in the Berlin Kulturbund as a dramaturge.

A special highlight of this concert will be the world premiere of Wiener's Quintet (1934), the manuscript of which is in the archives of the National Library of Israel. The original is partly in very poor condition and must first be transcribed into a legible notation.

Karl Wiener was murdered in a concentration camp in 1943 and his musical legacy was in danger of being forgotten. The first performance of this composition after 91 years is an artistic and historical event. In addition to his music, other works by composers who were once presented in the Kulturbund's concert programs will be performed.

The readings by Jochen Deuticke, based on academic publications by Sylvia Rogge-Gau, Gabriele Fritsch-Vive and other research, offer a deep insight into the activities and struggle for survival of the Jewish Cultural Association in Berlin - representative of all other cultural associations throughout the country.

Works performed:

- Karl Wiener (reconstruction and world premiere)

- Other composers who were active in the Kulturbund or were persecuted (to be announced)

Background: Since 2018, the Neue Musik Ensemble Aachen has dedicated its annual concert series to the fate of Jewish composers and their music to commemorate the Reichspogromnacht. Each project highlights a different aspect of the persecution and repression to which the artists were subjected. Little-known or forgotten composers are made audible again. With these special concerts, we are setting an example against forgetting.

New Music Ensemble Aachen (NMEAC)

Catharina Marquet - Vocals

Olaf Futyma - flute

Regina Pastuszyk - clarinet

Pofan Chen - violin

Tom Morrison- Viola

Cornelia Briese - cello

Manou Liebert - harp

Theodor Pauss - piano