Sinfonietta VivazzA is a chamber ensemble made of passionate classical musicians who believe that ‘Classical Music is for Everyone’. 

An important aspect of VivazzA ́s mission is to promote exceptional works by forgotten (neglected and lost composers. In the program ‘Resistance’, the Sinfonietta VivazzA will highlight composers who resisted the Nazi Regime through their artistic and political activities. 

From the Dutch composer Jan van Gilse, founder the Dutch Composers Society and resistance fighter, to Leo Justinus Kauffmann, who was ‘enartetet/forbidden’ because of his avant-garde works, but was still able to compose and win a WDR composition competition using a pseudonym. Both composers have an emotional ‘collegial’ connection to VivazzA, as they studied in Cologne (our hometown)- at the Cologne Music Academy; the predecessor of the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln (the Cologne Conservatory of Music and Dance). 

VivazzA will also present two composers interred in the concentration camp, Theresienstadt or Terezin; Hans Krasa and Rudolf Karel. Hans Krasa, whose childrens ́s opera Brundibär was misused by the Nazis in the film ‘Der Führer gibt den Jüden eine Stadt’/The Leader Gives the Jews a City, and the politcial opponent Rudolf Karel composed until the end of their lives (Rudolf Karel wrote his last works on toilet paper and had them smuggled to friends for posterity). Both Krasa ́s Tanec and the Nonet Op. 43 were among their last works. 

An important Mirror of the Times, the program ‘Resistance’ recognizes the importance of the arts in dark times and is a welcome addition to any concert series. 

Program:

Jan van Gilse (1881-1944): Nonet (1916) 

Leo Justinus Kauffmann (1901-1944): Quintett (1943)

Hans Krasa (1899-1944): Tanec/Tanz (1943/1944) 

Rudolf Karel (1880-1945): Nonett Op. 43 (1945)