Exilmusik Concert in Memory of Margaret Darby

Name: Exilmusik Concert in Memory of Margaret Darby
Start: 2026-05-14T19:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-14T21:30:00-04:00
Location: 611 Spring Garden St, Philadelphia, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 19123

Schedule

Thu May 14 2026 at 07:00 pm to 09:30 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

611 Spring Garden St, Philadelphia, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 19123 | Philadelphia, PA

Exilmusik
An evening of music and song honoring Margaret Darby
Thursday May 14th at 7:00PM, Barthelmes Auditorium, German Society of Pennsylvania
Immerse yourself into a powerful experience of Exilmusik - compositions born from rupture and resilience. During the 1930s and '40s, visionary composers like Arnold Schoenberg, Kurt Weill, and Hanns Eisler were forced to flee Nazi Germany, their vibrant voices silenced and their works banned. Yet, in exile, their artistry not only survived but transformed, weaving themes of loss, longing, and new beginnings into unforgettable masterpieces. This music is a testament to the enduring spirit of creativity—a passionate blend of Old World tradition and the new experiences—and a profound exploration of what it means to find a home in a different culture.
On May 14th, The German Society of Pennsylvania will welcome German tenor Michael Müller-Kasztelan and pianist Stefan Bone – both connected with the Kammerorchester der Grossregion (KOG), a pan-European orchestra headquartered in Saarbrücken. They will be joined by Philadelphia cellist Ulrich Boeckheler. They will perform a spectacular array of music from Schoenberg, Weill and Eisler, with additional works from an earlier time, when Heinrich Heine had to leave Germany for Paris – his poems set to music by Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann. There will also be songs by Gustav Mahler, representing the Amerika- Sehnsucht (Longing for America) so common in the early 20th century, and finally, a purely American composition: Samuel Barber’s Cello Sonata.
We’re hosting this evening in honor of Margaret Darby, a long-time member and supporter of the German Society. Margaret had two major passions in life: language and music. So what better way to honor her memory than a Liederabend? It’s wonderful that the two German musicians joining us have ties to Saarbrücken, the city where Margaret studied German at the beginning of her career as a simultaneous interpreter.
We hope you will enjoy this concert in the spirit of being at home in different languages and cultures, just as Margaret was – and embodying what she has intended with her generous bequest to the German Society: to support the organization in its efforts to explore and celebrate the German American experience in all its countless ways – and with a special flourish in 2026, the 250th anniversary of American Independence.
This is a free concert, but donations of $20 are encouraged.
We look forward to seeing you on May 14!
The Library Committee of the German Society of Pennsylvania