Hugo Kauder Centennial Celebrations

(New York, NY) – The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research is pleased to announce its participation in a series of events — with Carnegie Hall, the Fisher Center at Bard College, and the Hugo Kauder Society — celebrating the work and legacy of Austrian Jewish composer Hugo Kauder (1888-1972).

The centennial celebrations include three concerts and a discussion with Kauder’s biographer Karin Wagner.

Fleeing from Vienna in 1938 and ultimately settling in the USA in 1940, Kauder suffered a profound disruption in his life and career. The majority of Kauder’s oeuvre of over 300 works which defied the atonal trend of his generation, remains unpublished and in manuscript form to this day.

The Centennial Celebrations celebrate the 100th anniversary of two major events in Kauder’s life. The first his participation in the first International Society of Contemporary Music (ISCM) meeting, which gathered in Salzburg, Austria in 1922, with renowned composers: Paul Hindemith, Anton Webern, Karl Weigl, and Ethel Smyth. The second is the upcoming 100th anniversary of the premiere of his Mahlerian First Symphony in Vienna in 1924, which received a standing ovation and glowing reviews.

Kauder's work is receiving renewed interest today, in large part thanks to the Hugo Kauder Society’s efforts to digitally engrave his music, including his First Symphony and 2nd Violin Sonata which will both be performed during the celebrations with newly created scores.

YIVO’s music programming seeks to bring to light the music of Jewish composers by showcasing them in concerts, lectures, and discussions.

“There is so much incredible music that is lost to our collective memory because of war and dislocation,” explains YIVO’s Director of Public Programs Alex Weiser, himself an acclaimed composer. “The Hugo Kauder Society’s work to make Kauder’s compositions more available for performers and listeners alike resonates deeply with YIVO’s own work to make compositions by Jewish composers in our Archives more accessible. We were thrilled for this opportunity to help bring new life to Kauder’s musical legacy.”

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS EVENTS

What:            Hugo Kauder: Composer, Musical Philosopher, Music Theorist
When:           Thursday, October 20, 2022 | 1:00pm ET
Where:          Premiering on YouTube
Cost:              Free
Reservations Available at:  yivo.org/Kauder-Book-Talk
Presented by: YIVO Institute for Jewish Research

YIVO's Director of Public Programs Alex Weiser joins Kauder's biographer, scholar and pianist Karin Wagner, for a conversation about Kauder, his work, and his legacy.

Co-sponsored by Hugo Kauder Society, Leo Baeck Institute, and American Society for Jewish Music.

What:            Music of Hugo Kauder
When:           Thursday, October 27, 2022 | 7:00pm ET
Where:          In Person at YIVO in New York City and On Zoom
Cost:              General Admission: $15 / YIVO Members and Students: $10 / Free on Zoom
Reservations Available at:  yivo.org/Kauder-Concert
Presented by: YIVO Institute for Jewish Research

This concert is part of the YIVO Sidney Krum Young Artists Concert Series and explores a selection of Kauder's vocal music, piano music, and chamber music including Kauder's newly available Violin Sonata in a minor. This evening features performances by singer Vira Slywotzky, violinist Maya Bennardo, cellist Valeriya Sholokhova, and pianist Marika Bournaki.

Co-sponsored by Hugo Kauder Society, Leo Baeck Institute, and American Society for Jewish Music. This program is part of the Sidney Krum Young Artists Concert Series, made possible by a generous gift from the Estate of Sidney Krum. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.

What:            Carnegie Hall Preview: The Lost Generation
When:           Saturday, October 29, 2022 | 7:00pm ET
                       Sunday, October 30, 2022 | 2:00pm ET
Where:          In Person at Fisher Center at Bard College and livestreamed on TŌN’s website
Cost:              Tickets Starting at $25
Reservations Available at:  ton.bard.edu/events/lost-generation/
Presented by: The Orchestra Now

Conductor and Music Director Leon Botstein highlights four German and Austrian composers of the early 20th century, including Hugo Kauder, whose music was unfairly ignored or suppressed following World War II. This concert will be the US premiere of a new restoration of the Viennese composer’s First Symphony.

What:            The Lost Generation
When:           Thursday, November 3, 2022 | 7:00pm ET
Where:          In Person at Carnegie Hall
Cost:              Tickets Starting at $25
Reservations Available at:  carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2022/11/03/The-Orchestra-Now-0700PM
Presented by: The Orchestra Now

Conductor and Music Director Leon Botstein highlights four German and Austrian composers of the early 20th century, including Hugo Kauder, whose music was unfairly ignored or suppressed following World War II. This concert will be the New York City premiere of a new restoration of the Viennese composer’s First Symphony.

For more information contact:
Alex Weiser
Director of Public Programs

YIVO

The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research is dedicated to the preservation and study of the history and culture of East European Jewry worldwide. For nearly a century, YIVO has pioneered new forms of Jewish scholarship, research, education, and cultural expression. Our public programs and exhibitions, as well as online and on-site courses, extend our outreach to a global community. The YIVO Archives contains 24 million unique items and YIVO’s Library has over 400,000 volumes—the single largest resource for the study of East European Jewish life in the world. yivo.org / yivo.org/the-whole-story