Details:
Adrienne Haan will be giving a lecture on degenerate music at the Centre Culturel Régional Opderschmelz in Dudelange on 17 September 2019, from 19:30.
Degenerate Music (German: "Entartete Musik") was a label applied in the 1930s by the Nazi government in Germany to certain forms of music that it considered to be harmful or decadent. The Nazi government's concern for degenerate music was a part of its larger and more well-known campaign against degenerate art ("Entartete Kunst"). In both cases, the government attempted to isolate, discredit, discourage or ban the works.
In her historical lecture, German-Luxembourgish artist Adrienne Haan will highlight many aspects of German history and politics, going as far back as the year 1914, the beginning of World War I. She will then look at the Weimar Republic (1918-1933), again focusing on its politics, but also focusing on its artists and the rise of European Cabaret. The artist will also illustrate the life and works of some of the most famous musicians of the time such as the Jewish composer Kurt Weill (1900-1950) and the Jewish conductor Otto Klemperer (1885-1973) before discussing the rising Nazi Regime, its politics and the end of the pluralism of the Weimar Republic. The talk will also touch on the Great Depression of 1929, the forbidden Jazz and Swing music under the Nazis as well as the persecution and execution of the so-called German “Swing Youth” which originated in Hamburg. During the lecture, she will contrast the music that was allowed in the Third Reich (1933-1945) with the music that was considered degenerate. A 13-minute slide show accompanied by what was considered degenerate music will be shown at the end of the presentation. The one-hour lecture will finish with a Q&A session.
The event is organised by MemoShoah Luxembourg under the patronage of the German Ambassador in Luxembourg, Heinrich Kreft, and the City of Dudelange. Entry is free but registration is required for seating.
Venue: Opderschmelz, Dudelange
Organiser: MemoShoah Luxembourg
Price: Free
Reservations: http://www.opderschmelz.lu/
