Exiliados: Un concierto de cuatro compositores expatriados en Estados Unidos
“Exiles” is a concert that celebrates four composers who were forced into exile and settled in the United States in the 20th century. Some achieved international renown, others are little-known today yet deserve greater attention. In this program, we embark on a voyage through the lives and works of four remarkable figures: Kurt Weill, Sergei Rachmaninov, Vally Weigl, and Wolfgang Korngold. Each of these composers faced the harsh realities of displacement when they were compelled to leave their homelands due to political turmoil, war, or persecution. Despite the upheaval, they persevered and continued their musical careers in the U.S.
Join us as we delve into the distinctive soundscape of Kurt Weill, whose innovative blend of cabaret, jazz, and classical music revolutionized the stage. From the gritty streets of Weimar-era Germany to the dazzling lights of Broadway, Weill’s compositions echo the tumultuous times in which he lived. Sergei Rachmaninov, renowned for his lush melodies and stirring harmonies, fled his native Russia amidst the turmoil of revolution and civil war. His music transcends borders, speaking to the depths of the human experience with emotional intensity. Austrian composer and pianist, Vally Weigl sought refuge in the United States when she fled the horrors of Nazi persecution. Her haunting compositions reflect the enduring power of the human spirit. Once in the U.S, Weigl became one of the pioneers of musical therapy, bringing the power of music to serve in hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. We also pay homage to Wolfgang Korngold, whose cinematic, symphonic scores defined the golden age of Hollywood. Forced to flee the rise of fascism in Europe, Korngold’s music became the voice of silver screen epics, capturing the imagination of audiences worldwide.
Through their struggles and triumphs, these exiled musicians forged a lasting legacy in the United States, enriching the world with their extraordinary talents. Join us as we celebrate their indomitable spirits and the timeless beauty of their music.
Kurt Weill (1900-1950) was a German-born composer who was raised in an obsrvant Jewish family in Dessau, Germany. He first rose to fame in Weimar Germany in the 1920s, when he collaborated with playwright Bertolt Brecht to compose for the theater. At the beginning of World War II, Weill was driven out of Germany by the Nazis; he moved first to Paris and then to the U.S., where he settled in 1935. Weill considered Broadway theater to be a more creative alternative to the traditional opera houses for which he had been composing. Even as he contributed to the American war effort, he went on to compose and establish a range of successful and innovative musical forms for the stage. Today, his work continues to influence classical and popular music alike.
Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) was a Russian-born pianist and composer known for his iconic work in classical and melancholy Romanticism. A 1909 tour of the U.S. earned Rachmaninoff popularity in America, and when the political turmoil of the Russian Revolution forced him and his family to flee, they moved to New York. After his departure, his music was banned in the Soviet Union.
Vally Weigl (1894-1982) was an Austrian-born composer and musical therapist. Born to a Jewish family in Vienna, Weigl studied musicology, psychology, and musical pedagogy. After Austria was annexed to Germany, Nazi racial laws forced Weigl to move to New York in 1938. Weigl incurred a shoulder injury, but her revelation that physical therapy was less painful when set to music led her to establish the profession of musical therapist. The compositions she created were largely polyphonic chamber music vocal pieces, many of which deal with themes of pacifism.
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957) was an Austrian-born conductor and composer who is one of the pioneers of film music, known for his influence on Hollywood scores. Korngold was working as a professor at the Vienna State Academy in 1934 when the rise of the Nazi regime compelled him to relocate. The sponsorship of the Austrian-born director Max Reinhardt, who was living in America at the time, encouraged Korngold to move to Hollywood, where he produced film scores that won him two Oscars and defined the golden age of the silver screen.
“Exiles: A Concert of Four Expatriate Composers in the US” will be held on Friday, May 31st at 7:30pm in the auditorium of the International Institute. The concert features soprano Carolina Moncada Durruti, pianist Borja Marino, and flautist Anna Buczkowska. For tickets, click here.
