Auner Quartett to Perform Forgotten Works of Composer Mary Dickenson-Auner

In a landmark event for classical music, the Auner Quartett will bring to life the hitherto unpublished works of Mary Dickenson-Auner, a Dublin-born composer whose career was cut short by the Nazis. The quartet, performing at Vienna’s historic Musikverein from November 25, 2026, aims to shed light on a forgotten chapter of musical history.

Dickenson-Auner, whose career flourished in Vienna until she was banned from public performance and teaching in 1938 due to her British passport, had a career spanning several decades. Born in 1880 and trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London, she made her debut with the Czech Philharmonic in 1905 and premiered Bartók's First Violin Sonata in Austria in 1922. However, her life changed drastically when she was forced to flee the city in 1938. Despite the suppression of her works, she continued composing in exile, pouring her emotions into her music as she wrote, "The suppressed notes broke forth like a tidal wave."

The Auner Quartett, which includes Daniel Auner, a relative of the composer, will perform Dickenson-Auner's Fourth String Quartet as part of a four-concert cycle titled "Jenseits vom tanzenden Wien" (Beyond Dancing Vienna). The cycle also includes works by other composers who faced similar fates during the Nazi era, such as Alexander Zemlinsky, Egon Wellesz, and Fritz Kreisler.

The project is part of a broader effort to celebrate and commemorate the contributions of Jewish and other artists who were forced to leave Austria during the 1930s and 1940s. Peter Marboe, a former Vienna City Councillor for Culture and chairman of the Alexander Zemlinsky Fund, praised the initiative, calling it "a bold, exciting project that brings to light the talent of a forgotten composer."

In addition to the quartets, the cycle will feature songs by composers such as Alexander Zemlinsky and contemporaries, performed by baritone Thomas Hampson on March 17, 2027. The concerts will also include works by notable composers such as Alban Berg and Gustav Mahler, further enriching the musical landscape.

Daniel Auner, the quartet's first violinist, expressed his excitement about the project: "To bring these works to life after so many years is not only a challenge but also a profound responsibility. We are honored to share this music with audiences and to keep the memory of Dickenson-Auner and other composers alive."

The cycle will continue with concerts on February 17, 2027, and May 22, 2027, featuring works by composers who, like Dickenson-Auner, were forced to leave their homes and careers behind. Full programmes and tickets can be found on the Auner Quartett’s website.

The Auner Quartett, founded in 2013, has established itself as a leading ensemble in contemporary classical music. Their upcoming performances aim to honor the legacy of Dickenson-Auner and other composers who suffered under Nazi oppression, ensuring that their music is not forgotten.