Quatuor Auner to Perform Series Honoring Silenced Composers in Vienna

In a poignant tribute to the composers silenced by the Nazi regime, the renowned Quatuor Auner is set to perform a groundbreaking series of concerts in Vienna. From November 25, 2026, to May 22, 2027, the ensemble will present a cycle titled "Jenseits vom tanzenden Wien" (Par-delà the Dancing Vienna) at the Musikverein in Vienna. The series aims to honor and celebrate the music of composers who, like the city's reputation, have been overshadowed by a period of darkness.

Peter Marboe, a former cultural advisor to the City of Vienna, praised the initiative, stating, "This is an ambitious project that the Quatuor Auner has embarked upon, boldly exploring new territories and transcending the traditional narrative of Viennese music."

The four-concert series will spotlight composers who were doubly marginalized: first, by the public's preference for the dance music of the Strauss brothers, and later, by the Nazi regime's propaganda, which branded their works as "degenerate" and forced them into exile. At the heart of this cycle is Alexander Zemlinsky (1871-1942), a pivotal figure in the transition from late Romanticism to modernism. As a professor and Schönberg's brother-in-law, Zemlinsky's influence extended far beyond his own compositions. His "Suite lyrique" dedicated to Alban Berg and his orchestral works will be featured throughout the series. Zemlinsky's "Revelge" is set to feature in each evening's program.

Around Zemlinsky, the cycle includes other composers who suffered similar fates: Egon Wellesz, who found refuge in Oxford; Anton Webern, who was tragically killed in 1945; Fritz Kreisler, who wrote his "Quartet 'Bekenntnis zu Wien'" while in New York; and Mary Dickenson-Auner (1880-1965), whose performances were banned in Vienna in 1938. Her quartets, which largely exist only in manuscript form, will also be performed, highlighting the personal connection of Daniel Auner, a member of the Quatuor Auner, who will play on his own violin.

On March 17, 2027, the baryton Thomas Hampson will perform a selection of lieder by these exiled composers, including works by Zemlinsky and his contemporaries. The Quatuor Auner, founded in 2013, has already made a name for itself, winning the 2018 Eugène Ysaÿe Competition in Liège and serving as an ambassador for Austrian culture (NASOM) from 2020 to 2021. Their album "Versinkende Sonne" was awarded "CD of the Year" in 2022 by Ö1.

The series promises to be a moving and enlightening experience, offering a glimpse into the rich musical heritage that was nearly lost. The dates for the concerts are as follows:

- November 25, 2026: Mary Dickenson-Auner's Quatuor No. 4, alongside Schubert, Brahms, and Zemlinsky. Irene Suchy will provide a lecture. - February 17, 2027: Webern, Johann Strauss II, Zemlinsky, and Alban Berg. Wolfgang Böck and Arthur Schnitzler will offer lectures. - March 17, 2027: Thomas Hampson will perform lieder by Zemlinsky and contemporaries, including works by Wolf and Schönberg. - May 22, 2027: Fritz Kreisler's "Bekenntnis zu Wien," Wellesz, Zemlinsky, and Johann Strauss II.

Full programs and tickets are available at [the Quatuor Auner's website]. For more information, contact Daniel Auner at +43 677 63513039 or [email protected].