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Exilarte anniversary concert in New York at the Center for Jewish History | March 1, 2026

Posted on January 21, 2026 by - Aktuell, Concert Series " Echo of the Unheard", International-en, news, Partnerships with Exilarte, posts-en

To mark the anniversary of the exile in 2026, a concert featuring members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and pianist David Hausknecht will be held in cooperation with the Center for Jewish History, the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, the Leo Baeck Institute, and the Austrian Cultural Forum New York, featuring works by Gustav Mahler, Erwin Schulhoff, and Walter Bricht.
The concert is supported by Alumni Relations – Office of the Rector of the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

Welcome remarks by Rector Ulrike Sych and Michael Leavitt.

Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.

YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
15 West 16th Street, NYC
Located in the Center for Jewish History

Free admission! / Register here.

Program:

Gustav Mahler
Piano Quartet in A minor (1876)
I. Not too fast

Erwin Schulhoff
String Quartet No. 2 (1925)

Walter Bricht
Piano Concerto No. 2 in A minor, Op. 17 (1929)
— Arrangement for piano quintet (1952)
I. Allegro molto moderato
II. Allegretto con moto
III. Introduction, theme, and variations

Moderator:

Gerold Gruber, founder of exil.arte and director of the Exilarte Center at the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

Interpreters:

Lucas Stratmann, violin (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra)
Martin Klimek, violin (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra)
Robert Bauerstatter, viola (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra)
Stefan Gartmayer, cello (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra)
David Hausknecht, piano (mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna / Exilarte Center)

Book Presentation ” Music of Exile”

Posted on September 24, 2023 by - International-en

We are pleased to announce the book presentation of “Music of Exile – The Untold Story of Composers Who Fled Hitler” (Yale University Press, 2023) by the renowned author and researcher of “exiled music” Dr. Benjamin Michael Haas.The presentation will take place on 27 September at London’s Reform Club.
  
Wednesday, 27 September 2023, 6 pm
104 Pall Mall
St. James’s
London SW1Y 5EW
UK
 
Free Admission!

Presentation

Benjamin Michael Haas


Discussion:


Benjamin Michael Haas and James Jolly

About the Book:

What happens to a composer when persecution and exile means their true music no longer has an audience?
 
In the 1930s, composers and musicians began to flee Hitler’s Germany to make new lives across the globe. The process of exile was complex: although some of their works were celebrated, these composers had lost their familiar cultures and were forced to navigate xenophobia as well as entirely different creative terrain. Others, far less fortunate, were in a kind of internal exile—composing under a ruthless dictatorship or in concentration camps and ghettos.

Michael Haas sensitively records the experiences of this musical diaspora. Torn between cultures and traditions, these composers produced music that synthesized old and new worlds, some becoming core portions of today’s repertoire, some relegated to the desk drawer. Encompassing the musicians interned as enemy aliens in the United Kingdom, the brilliant Hollywood compositions of Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and the Brecht-inspired theater music of Kurt Weill, Haas shows how these musicians shaped the twentieth-century soundscape—and offers a moving record of the incalculable effects of war on culture.
 
About Autor:
Benjamin Michael Haas, PhD was for many years a recording producer with Decca and Sony. 1994/5 he was appointed Vice President of Sony Classical in NY. He has won a number of Grammys, initiated and led Decca’s recording series “Entartete Musik”. From 2002 – 2010, he worked as Music Curator at Vienna’s Jewish Museum. From 2000 – 2015 he was director at London University’s Jewish Music Institute and in 2015/16, he was a Research Associate at the University College London’s School of Jewish and Hebrew Studies. Since 2016 he has acted as Senior Researcher at mdw’s Exilarte Center, which he co-founded.
 

Review of the concert published! Concert Series “Echo of the Unheard” I June 22, 2023 I INEO String Quartet – Treasures from the Exilarte Center

Posted on May 25, 2023 by - Concert Series " Echo of the Unheard", International-en, posts-en

©Amelie Meißner

You can read the review of the concert here.

The Exilarte Center of the mdw- University of music and Performing Arts presents string quartets by Walter Bricht, Julius Bürger and Hans Gál. The legacies of these composers are in the archive of the Exilarte Center. Works by: Walter Bricht, Julius Bürger and Hans Gál

Performers:

INEO Quartet (Nadia Kalmykova – violin, Ljuba Kalmykova – violin, Yan-Lok ​​Hoi – viola, Constantin Paul Siepermann – cello)

Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 7:00 p.m

Palais Ehrbar – small Ehrbar hall
Mühlgasse 28
1040 Vienna

Admission free! / register here.

Moderation: Gerold Gruber (founder of exil.arte and head of the Exilarte center)

Program:

Walter Bricht (1904 – 1970) – Chaconne, [WoO. 24] (1967)

Julius Bürger (1897-1995) – String Quartet No. 2 (1968)

Hans Gal (1890-1987) – String Quartet No. 4, op. 99 (1970)

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

Posted on April 2, 2023 by - Concert Series " Echo of the Unheard", Featured, International-en, news, posts-en

© Marco Borggreve

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

Buy tickets here

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

Dmitri Smirnov (©Alissa Firsova)
Elena Firsova (©Alissa Firsova)

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.

Philip Herschkowitz (©Viktor Suslin)

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

Buy tickets here

Exilarte Concerts in New York I February 21 & February 23, 2023

Posted on January 23, 2023 by - International-en, posts-en

The Exilarte Center presents compositions from its musical estates in two concerts in New York

In cooperation with the Austrian Cultural Forum New York and the Center for Jewish History in New York, concerts by the Exilarte Center at the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna will take place on February 21 & 23, 2023. Works by Walter Bricht, Julius Bürger, Robert Fürstenthal, Hans Gál, Wilhelm Grosz, Gustav Lewi and André Singer are presented in two different programs. The musical estates of these composers are located in the archive of the Exilarte Center. Works by Walter Arlen, Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Vally Weigl will also be performed.

These concerts mark the beginning of the cooperation with the American publishing house Schirmer/Wise Music, who will publish over 300 works from the archive of the Exilarte Center at the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna over the next years.

Concert at the Austrian Cultural Forum New York


Tuesday, February 21, 2023, 7 PM (EST)
Austrian Cultural Forum New York
11 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10022


Works by: Julius Bürger, Walter Bricht, Robert Fürstenthal, Wilhelm Grosz and Vally Weigl


Performers:
Josipa Bainac-Hausknecht, Mezzo-soprano
Ulrike Anton, Flute
David Hausknecht, Piano

Moderation: Prof. Dr. Gerold Gruber (Founder of exil.arte and Chairman of the Exilarte Center)

Concert at the Center for Jewish History


Thursday, February 23, 2023, 7:30 PM (EST)
Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street
New York, NY 10011


You can listen to the concert under the following link very soon.


Works by: Walter Arlen, Julius Bürger, Hans Gál, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Gustav Lewi, André Singer and Vally Weigl


InterpretInnen:
Kodak String Quartet (Mannes School of Music)
Josipa Bainac-Hausknecht, Mezzo-soprano
Ulrike Anton, Flute
David Hausknecht, Piano

With an introduction by Prof. Dr. Gerold Gruber (Founder of exil.arte and Chairman of the Exilarte Center) and Michael Leavitt (ASJM President)

The Exilarte Center represents Austria at the Classical:NEXT in Hannover I May 17-20, 2022

Posted on March 21, 2022 by - International-en, posts-en

The Exilarte Center was selected by the WKO to represent Austria at the largest global networking and exchange hub for classical music.

On May 17, 2022, Mag. Ulrike Sych, Rector of the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, will open the presentation of the Exilarte Center in Hannover. Prof. Dr. Gerold Gruber, founder and chair of the center, will present together with vice-chair, Dr. Ulrike Anton, the numerous activities of the Exilarte Center.

The Classical:NEXT is the world’s most important industry meeting and event for global networking of the classical music scene.

Presentation of the Exilarte Center at the Classical:NEXT in Hannover

Tuesday, May 17, 2022, 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m
Hannover Congress Center
Theodor-Heuss-Platz 1-3
Video Conference Lounge
30175 Hannover

For further information please click here.

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

Posted on March 21, 2022 by - Featured, International-en, news, posts-en

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)

Posted on November 7, 2021 by - Concert Series " Echo of the Unheard", Events at the Exilarte Center, Featured, International-en, news, Partnerships with Exilarte, posts-en


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

Posted on September 14, 2021 by - Featured, International-en, news, posts-en

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

Download Info Masterclasses

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″

Download Program Symposium

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. 

Exhibition opening (October 20th, 2020) from Vienna and New York now on Youtube

Posted on October 20, 2020 by - Events at the Exilarte Center, Featured, International-en, news, Partnerships with Exilarte, posts-en

“My Song For You”: Marta Eggerth and Jan Kiepura – Between Two Worlds

Exhibition of the exil.arte Center of the mdw –
University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

WE ARE OPEN AGAIN STARTING MAY 19th 2021

Photo credits: Maria Noisternig


Simultaneous event and Livestream from the Liszt Hall of the mdw in Vienna and the Austrian Cultural Forum in New York now available on Youtube

On the occasion of the transfer of the estate of Marta Eggerth and Jan Kiepura to the exil.arte Center of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw), an exhibition has been prepared to present the life of the opera dream couple and their friends and colleagues.

Special Guests:
Ulrike Sych (President of the mdw) and Wolfgang Sobotka (President of the Austrian Parliament)
World-famous tenor Ramón Vargas and Pianist István Bonyhádi

The opening will also be available on mdw Mediathek from November 9th, 2020.

mdw Mediathek