Haas and Krása

Musica non grata, an international cultural project of the National Theater and the German Embassy in Prague, presents a series of online concerts with music by Nazi-persecuted composers.

Repertoire:

Pavel Haas: Radio Overtüre op. 11 

Hans Krása: Symphonie 1923 

In the first half of the 20th century composers Pavel Haas and Hans Krasa had a decisive influence on musical life in Prague and Brno. Unfortunately, both of the composers´ lives were tragically ended by the regime of National Socialism. Firstly, they were prisoners in concentration camps and later murdered in gas chambers in Auschwitz. The State Opera Orchestra conducted by Karl-Heinz Steffens perform a selection of their work.

Pavel Haas' Radio-Overture pays a tribute to then new invention – radio and its pioneer Gugliel Marconi. The composition is written for unusual combination of instruments and four male voices. The lyrics are based on a poem written by composer´s brother, famous actor, Hugo Haas. It is rarely performed and deep piece, yet filled with humour and wit!

Symphony for Alto and Small Orchestra by Hans Krasa was composed in 1923 during his short visit to Paris. Two movement were also performed there. In 1926 the composition was performed during International Society for Contemporary Music festival in Zurich. Thanks to this introduction Krasa entered the international music scene.

The special guests at our online concerts are JUDr. Tomáš Kraus, Secretary of Federation of Jewish Communities in Czech Republic and prof. PhDr. Lubomír Spurný, Ph.D., Director of the Terezín Composers’ Institute.