Lecture by Dr. Reinhard Wulfhorst and musical examples of his works
The Jewish Composer Robert Kahn in Feldberg (Mecklenburg), 1910–1939
Reinhard Wulfhorst’s lecture focuses on the dramatic turn of events that shaped Robert Kahn’s life during the “Third Reich” due to his Jewish heritage: his expulsion from the Academy of Arts in Berlin, the economic plundering by the Nazis, the failed attempts to secure protection with the help of the Gestapo (!), and finally his expulsion into exile in Britain.
During this time, Kahn kept his compositional spirit alive with the piano cycle “Diary in Sounds,” from which Toby Olias Brechler, a piano student at the HMT, will perform several pieces.
This, however, is only the sad part of a moving biography: Robert Kahn’s artistic personality comes to life, among other things, through his friendships with Johannes Brahms, Albert Einstein, Gerhart Hauptmann, and Wilhelm Kempff.
The lecture, illustrated with numerous images, is based on a recently published book that offers a new perspective on Robert Kahn and the persecution of Jewish artists under National Socialism and “reads in places like a historical mystery novel” (Berliner Morgenpost).
Dr. Reinhard Wulfhorst is the owner of the music publishing house Edition Massonneau and a recipient of the Cultural Award from the State capital Schwerin.
An event organized by Geschichtswerkstatt Rostock e.V. in cooperation with the Jewish Community of Rostock and the Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e.V. as part of the 10th Jewish Culture Days in Rostock
Admission is free; donations are welcome
