Egon Lustgarten (1887-1961), an Austrian composer of Jewish descent, was forced to emigrate to the United States after Hitler’s annexation of Austria. The Chicago premiere of ‘Healing a Fractured World: A portrait of exiled composer Egon Lustgarten’ brings the composer’s story to life through performance of his rarely heard musical works, narrated personal correspondence, images and a brief lecture. This program is presented by The Lahr von Leïtis Academy and Archive under the auspice of Elysium Between Two Continents.

A brief opening lecture will give an overview of Lustagrten’s story and the political circumstances that led to his exile. Musical selections will include works for piano, Lieder and opera performed by soprano Melissa Primavera, pianist Sarah Jenks and baritone Carl Ratner. Interspersed with the musical selections will be narration by actor Fred Wellisch of selected letters to Lustgarten’s loved ones and colleagues as well as his diary entries. These media combined will create a portrait of Lustgarten as an artist, an emigrant, and a human. The music will be sung in German with English supertitles and narrated components in English. Images of the composer and places of importance to his story will be displayed as part of the performance. Running time is approximately 90 minutes followed by a brief reception to allow for audience reflection, dialogue, and engagement with the performers.

The mission of The Lahr von Leïtis Academy and Archive is to expose younger generations to exiled art; helping them create a future that incorporates lessons learned from history. The Lahr von Leïtis Academy and Archive has curated and preserved Lustgarten’s musical manuscripts and correspondence which would otherwise remain in the shadows. We aim to bring these musical masterpieces to light so that contemporary audiences can experience their inherent beauty while also gaining an understanding of their significant historical context.

Audience Advisory: The program content may not be suitable for young children.

Tickets: There is no cost for admission. Reservations are required as seating is limited. If you wish to support the program with an optional, tax-deductible donation, please visit: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1419634

Accessibility: An elevator and designated seating area for mobility devices is available. Please indicate your accessibility needs when reserving your seats so we may better assist you.

Parking: https://pianofortechicago.com/parking/

Public Transportation: PianoForte Studios is located near the Roosevelt CTA station (Red, Orange & Green lines.)

Links:

The Lahr von Leïtis Academy and Archive
Melissa Primavera
Sarah Jenks