Category: news

The catalogue to the exhibition “Fritz Kreisler” has arrived!

The catalogue to the exhibition: Fritz Kreisler – a cosmopolitan in exile. From child prodigy to ” King of Violonists”

The exhibition at the mdw’s Exilarte Center shows the different stages of life of one of the greatest violin virtuosos of the 20th century, whose success story started in Vienna and ended in New York. Fritz Kreisler was cosmopolitan on the one hand and affected by the fate of exiles on the other.

On the occasion of the 10th International Fritz Kreisler Violin Competition, which has been held at the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna since 1979, the new exhibition of the Exilarte Center of the mdw was developed – to present the life and importance of Fritz Kreisler to the public.

After the Nazis had banned all of his performances and recordings due to his Jewish origins, he emigrated to the USA in September 1939 and became an American citizen in 1943. In addition to his spectacular successes from childhood to the end of his career, the exhibition sheds light on him as a Jew and exile. The exhibition also shows Kreisler’s philanthropic and charitable activities. Material newly discovered in the course of the research complements the difficult research situation.

Authors: 

Ulrike Anton 
Amy Biancolli 
Albrecht Dümling 
Gerold Gruber 
Michael Haas 
Nobuko Nakamura 
Matthias Schmidt 
Eric Wen

Editor:

Prof. Dr. Gerold Gruber (Chairman of the Exilarte Center)

Publisher: 

Verlag Böhlau

If you are interested in buying, please contact: info@exilarte.org

Concert Series “Echo of the Unheard” I May 16, 2023 I Elisabeth Leonskaja, Ulrike Anton and Alissa Firsova I – In the footsteps of students of Philip Herschkowitz and his students

© Marco Borggreve

Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 7 PM (EST)
Palais Ehrbar- Large Ehrbar Hall
Mühlgasse 28, 1040 Vienna

As a former student of Alban Berg and Anton Webern, the composer Philip Herschkowitz was one of the most sought-after private teachers of young musicians in the former Soviet Union after the war until the 1980s. Because of his Jewish origins, Herschkowitz, who was born in Romania, was expelled from Vienna by the Nazi regime. In Moscow, too, he continued to suffer from anti-Semitic threats and his works were frowned upon as “formalistic”. The focus of the concert is the musical work of Dmitri Smirnov and Elena Firsova, both of whom belonged to the narrow circle of private students and whose compositions were on the regime’s notorious “black list” from 1979 onwards. The exceptional pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja could again be won as interpreter of this program, who will perform this evening together with singer Maacha Deubner, flutist Ulrike Anton, harpist Anna Verkholantseva, violist Marta Potulska and pianist and composer Alissa Firsova.

© Peter Kogoj

In an interview with Irene Suchy, the pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja and the composer Alissa Firsova will talk about their apprenticeship years with Philip Herschkowitz and the compositions on the evening’s program. The concert takes place in memory of the composer and Herschkowitz student, Dmitri Smirnov, who died of Covid-19 in 2020.

Works by: Elena Firsova, Dmitri Smirnov, Arnold Schönberg and Philip Herschkowitz

Performers:
Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano)
Ulrike Anton (flute)
Maacha Deubner, (soprano)
Alissa Firsova (piano)
Anna Verkholantseva (harp)
Marta Potulska (viola)


Moderation: Irene Suchy


When: May 16, 2023, 7 PM (EST)
Where: Palais Ehrbar- Large Ehrbar Hall
Mühlgasse 28, 1040 Vienna

CD Presentation Hans Winterberg, Piano Music  June 9, 2022

The Exilarte Center at the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna in Cooperation with Toccata Classics.

The Theresienstadt composer Hans Winterberg (1901 – 1991) has only been known to the musical world for a few years. The Exilarte Center is largely responsible for the rediscovery of the composer and will publish a large number of compositions in cooperation with the publishing house Boosey & Hawkes over the next few years.

On her second CD with works by Hans Winterberg, the pianist Brigitte Helbig recorded the Toccata, the First Piano Sonata (1936), the Impressionistische Klavier-Suite, the Suite (1956) and Erinnerungen an Böhmen for Toccata Classics. This new CD will be presented on June 9, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. in the Franz Liszt Hall of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Prof. Dr. Gerold Gruber, chairman of the Exilarte Center, will guide the audience through this exciting evening, where Brigitte Helbig will interpret some of the works she has recorded. Furthermore, Peter Kreitmeir, grandson of Hans Winterberg, will speak about his numerous efforts supporting the work of his grandfather.

CD Presentation: Piano Music by Hans Winterberg (Volume Two), Toccata Classics

Thursday, June 9, 2022
7:30 p.m.
mdw –University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
Lothringerstrasse 18
Franz Liszt-Saal (3rd floor)
1030 Vienna/Austria

Admission free!

Wearing an FFP2 mask during the event is recommended.

The Exilarte Center represents the mdw at the Long Night of Research I May 20, 2022

Expelled, persecuted and banned by the Nazi regime – what musical estates are telling us…

On May 20, 2022, the Exilarte Center will represent the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna with several events about the estate of Marta Eggerth and Jan Kiepura during the Long Night of Research.

The son of Jan Kiepura and Marta Eggerth, Marjan Kiepura, himself a pianist and artistic partner of his famous mother, will report on the fate and brilliant careers of his parents in an interview with Prof. Dr. Gerold Gruber (chairman of the Exilarte Center).

Historical film recordings and audio documents from Eggerth/Kiepura can also be viewed and listened to during the event.

In addition, there will be regular guided tours through the exhibition of the Exilarte Center “My Song For You – Marta Eggerth and Jan Kiepura Between Two Worlds”.

The exhibition shows the stage and film careers as well as the musical heritage of these two famous singers. After the so-called Austrian “Anschluss” in 1938, they were forced to turn their backs on Vienna, which the Hungarian soprano and the Polish tenor had initially chosen as their new home. Through scientific research on this important estate, it has also been possible to draw attention to numerous other fates of friends and colleagues of Marta Eggerth and Jan Kiepura who were persecuted or murdered by the Nazi regime.

Long Night of Research, May 20, 2022, 5 – 11 p.m.

From 5:30 p.m., Exilarte Center (1st floor)
Short tours through the exhibition “My Song For You – Marta Eggerth and Jan Kiepura Between Two Worlds” including trivia on the content of the exhibition

7 p.m., Franz Liszt Hall (3rd floor)
Opening: video greeting from Ulrike Sych, rector of the mdw
Marjan Kiepura and his wife Jane Knox-Kiepura will report on the interesting life stories of Marta Eggerth end Jan Kiepura. In addition, historical film recordings and audio documents will be shown.

8 p.m., Franz Liszt Hall (3rd floor)
Q&A with Marjan Kiepura and Jane Knox-Kiepura

From 8:30 p.m., Exilarte Center (1st floor)
further short guided tours & trivia 

Free entry!

Recording of the event: https://mediathek.mdw.ac.at/lnf22

Exilarte Center at the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
Lothringerstrasse 18 (1st floor)
1030 Vienna, Austria

Exilarte Concerts in New York and Washington D.C. I April 27 – May 3, 2022

The Exilarte Center presents compositions from their musical estates in three concerts in the US

In cooperation with the Center for Jewish History in New York, the Austrian Cultural Forum New York and the Austrian Cultural Forum Washington, concerts by the Exilarte Center will take place from April 27 to May 3, 2022, in which works by Julius Bürger, Hans Gál and Robert Fürstenthal will be performed. The musical estates of these composers are located in the archive of the Exilarte Center.

Works by Erwin Schulhoff and Alexandre Tansman will also be heard.

Concert at the Center for Jewish History

Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 7:30 p.m. (EDT)
Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street
New York, NY 10011

The link for the YouTube video of this concert will be published soon…

Works by: Hans Gál, Erwin Schulhoff, Alexandre Tansman, Julius Bürger and Robert Fürstenthal

Performers:

Ulrike Anton, flute
Selini Quartet
Nadia Kalmykova, violin
Ljuba Kalmykova, violin
Marta Potulska, viola
​Loukia Loulaki, cello

Matthew Maroon, oboe
Taig Egan, clarinet
Sandford Schwartz, bassoon
Hyunseon Kang, soprano
Mariia Kolosova, piano

Concert at the Austrian Cultural Forum New York

Thursday, April 28, 2022, 7 p.m. (EDT)
Austrian Cultural Forum New York
11 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10022

Works by: Julius Bürger

Performers:

Selini Quartet
Nadia Kalmykova, violin
Ljuba Kalmykova, violin
Marta Potulska, viola
Loukia Loulaki, cello

Concert at the Austrian Cultural Forum Washington

Tuesday, May 3, 2022, 7 p.m. (EDT)
Austrian Cultural Forum Washington / Embassy of Austria
3524 International Court, NW
Washington, DC 20008

Works by: Julius Bürger, Erwin Schulhoff und Béla Bartók

Performers:

Selini Quartet
Nadia Kalmykova, violin
Ljuba Kalmykova, violin
Marta Potulska, viola
Loukia Loulaki, cello

The composer Jan Urban – an homage, a project by pianist Biljana Urban in cooperation with the Exilarte Center I March 8 & 9, 2022 (2G)


The Composer Jan Urban – an Homage

The composer Jan Urban, born in Prague in 1875, spent most of his life among the South Slav regions, initially in the Kingdom of Serbia, after 1918 in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, and from 1929 until its occupation by the Nazis in 1941 in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The declaration of the fascist-run Independent State of Croatia found Urban fleeing the country and returning to Serbia. His best friend, the Jewish conductor Lav Mirsky, together with whom he paved the way for modern Opera and symphonic musical life in Osijek, was deported. Among Jan Urban’s compositions celebrating the Resistance to the Nazis we find Sutjeska and Death of the Hero (Elegy).

Biljana Urban, well-known pianist and granddaughter of Jan Urban, has been advocating for the rediscovery of her grandfather’s works for many years. Her latest project in cooperation with the Exilarte Center at the mdw, which she will present at the Franz Liszt Hall of the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna on March 8 & 9, 2022, involves young students from Austria, Serbia, Croatia , Spain and the Netherlands. During the process of preparing for a piano competition the young musicians have thoroughly studied Jan Urban’s oeuvre which they will present in a concert on March 9, 2022. The students will receive additional intensive preparation taking master classes with Biljana Urban.

Biljana Urban will perform works by Jan Urban and Hans Gál in a concert together with singer Annette Fischer and flutist Ulrike Anton on March 8, 2022.

The estate of Jan Urban is located in the archive of the Exilarte Center at the mdw.

Concert with works by Jan Urban and Hans Gál

Biljana Urban, piano
Annette Fischer, soprano
Ulrike Anton, flute

Tuesday, March 8, 2022, 7:30 p.m.

2G ( vaccinated or recovered) applies!


University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
Lothringerstrasse 18
Franz Liszt Hall (3rd floor)
1030 Vienna/ Austria

Free admission

Student Performance

With students from Austria, Serbia, Croatia, Spain and the Netherlands

Wednesday, March 9, 2022, 7 p.m.

2G ( vaccinated or recovered) applies!


University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
Lothringerstrasse 18
Franz Liszt Hall (3rd floor)
1030 Vienna/Austria

Free admission

Exilarte invited to the Verfemte Musik Festival in Schwerin, Germany | October 7 – 10, 2021

IntInternationale Masterclasses, Symposium and Concert

From October 7 – 10,  2021 the Exilarte Cetner is again invited to the Verfemte Musik Festival in Schwerin/Germany

Flutist and musicologist Dr. Ulrike Anton will hold masterclasses for flute and wind chamber music from October 7 – 10, 2021.  Registration is open until September 19, 2021.

Online-Registration Masterclass

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Gerold Gruber will give a paper at the 5th Schwerin Music Symposium on October 8, 2021 at 11:00 am. This event is part of the festival “1700 years of Jewish life in Germany”  

Topic of the lecture: “The novel Die Stadt ohne Juden by Hugo Bettauer and Olga Neuwirth’s musical setting composed in 2018″

The symposium will be broadcast via livestream -> Online-Registration for the Symposium and live stream

The concert “Korngolds Violinkonzert im Gespräch” on October 7, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. will also be live-streamed. 

ORF Long Night of Museums | October 2, 2021


On Saturday, October 2nd, 2021, this year’s “ORF Long Night of Museums” will take place in Austria. The Exilarte Center of the mdw is pleased to again be part of the event this year. In addition to our special programs, there will be also guided tours through the current exhibition “My song for you – Marta Eggerth and Jan Kiepura between two worlds” as well as through our permanent exhibitions.


SPECIAL EVENTS as part of the ORF Long Night of Museums

1) Hidden Treasure (Start: 6pm)

Opening by Rector Mag.a. Ulrike Sych

CD presentation: “Hidden Treasure – Unpublished Lieder by Hans Gál”

Bass-Baritone Christian Immler and pianist Helmut Deutsch will perform unknown songs by Hans Gál (1890-1987) located in the archive of the Exilarte Center of the mdw.
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Gerold Gruber, chairman of the Exilarte Center, will interview Eva Fox-Gál, daughter of the composer, speaking about his life and works.

2) Treasures from the Exilarte Center (Start: 8pm)

Hans Gál – Trio for oboe, violin and viola, op.94 (1941)

Oboist Isabella Schwarz, violinist Floris Willem and violist Liliya Nigamedzyanova will perform Gál’s op.94.
Dr. Ulrike Anton, research associate of the Exilarte Center, discusses with the daughter of the composer, Eva Fox-Gál, aspects of his chamber music works.

3) Screening “Magic of Bohème” (1937) (Start: 10pm)

In addition to the exhibition: screening of the famous film by the two superstars Marta Eggerth and Jan Kiepura, in which operatic sujet and reality merge.

4) Quick tours through the exhibition (7-10pm)

My song for you – Marta Eggerth and Jan Kiepura between two worlds Marta Eggerth and Jan Kiepura have enchanted and seduced people on both sides of the Atlantic. Their unique timbre is still moving us today. Nonetheless, after the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany in 1938, they were forced to turn their backs on Austria.

TICKETS

Tickets can be bought directly at the Exilarte Center!

Regular: € 15.00 (including VAT)
Reduced: € 12.00 (including VAT)
* Free entry for children up to 12 years of age
* reduced tickets for schoolchildren, students, senior citizens, people with disabilities, military service and Ö1 Club members. Please have the relevant proof ready on site.

World famous baritone Thomas Hampson sings Wilhelm Grosz’s Africa Songs at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, livestream concert to be heard online from June 2, 2021 to June 2, 2022

Musikfest 2021: A Celebration of Black Music

In the opening concert of Musikfest 2021: A Celebration of Black Music, baritone Thomas Hampson performed together with soprano Louise Toppin three songs from the song cycle Africa Songs, op. 29 by Wilhelm Grosz. The two artists were accompanied on the piano by Howard Watkins.

Wilhelm Grosz (1894 – 1939), born in Vienna, was forced into exile in 1934 due to his Jewish origin. In the song cycle Africa Songs, which was composed in 1930, he set several poems by African-American poet Langston Hughes (1901-1967) to music. The estate of Wilhelm Grosz is located in the archive of the Exilarte Center.

Wilhelm Grosz, Africa Songs, op. 29 [15:05 – 22:18]

Wilhelm Grosz, from: Africa Songs, op. 29 [15:05 – 22:18]

Das neue Kabarettmädel [15:05]
Schnaps-Mary [17:07]
Nachtlied in Harlem [19:21]

For the complete program of this concert, please click here.

Exilarte Center invited to the International Summer Academy of the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, held in the Rax and Semmering region, Austria | August 16th, 2021

Concert – Workshop – Exilarte Award

This year’s first concert of the International Summer Academy of the mdw is dedicated to composers who were expelled by the Nazi regime. Under the title “Exilarte – bringing back persecuted and exiled Music”, works by Erich Zeisl, Wilhelm Grosz, Hans Gál, Ruth Schönthal, Fritz Kreisler and Julius Bürger will be performed on Monday, August 16 at 8 p.m. at the Literatursalon Schloss Wartholz.

Johannes Fleischmann (violin), Josipa Bainac (soprano), Ulrike Anton (flute), David Hausknecht (piano), Sabina Hasanova (piano) and the Selini Quartet are the performers of this lost and forgotten repertoire.

Arabella Fenyves (Radio Klassik Stephansdom) and Gerold Gruber (Chairman of the Exilarte Center at the mdw) will moderate the evening.

Monday, August 16, 2021, 8 PM (CET)
Literatursalon Schloss Wartholz
Hauptstraße 113
A-2651 Reichenau an der Rax
Austria

For ticket sales and further information, please click here.

This concert will be livestreamed on YouTube:

Exile Music Workshop with Prof. Dr. Gerold Gruber und Dr. Ulrike Anton

In this two-part workshop, Gerold Gruber and Ulrike Anton introduce the participants of the International Summer Academy to the subject of exile music and will work with individual soloists and ensembles on this particular repertoire.

August 19 & 20, 2021
Literatursalon Schloss Wartholz
Hauptstraße 113
A-2651 Reichenau an der Rax, Austria

For further information about the workshop please click here.

Exilarte Award at the ISA International Music Competition, August 25, 2021

For the first time the Exilarte Center will present the Exilarte Award, offering a sum of € 1000 at the International ISA Music Competition. The prize is awarded for an outstanding interpretation of a work by a composer who was forced into exile, suppressed or murdered by the Nazi regime. The Exilarte Award will be presented by Prof. Dr. Gerold Gruber at Schloss Reichenau during the prize winners’ concert on August 28, 2021.

For further information about the Exilarte Award please click here.