Arnold Schönberg, Kurt Weill, Leonard Bernstein – three Jewish fates, three eminent, albeit very different, 20th century composers. Schönberg and Weill, both born in Europe and forced to emigrate after the National Socialists seized power, went on to develop rather contrasting forms of musical expression in their American exile, with Schönberg continuing steadily on the path of atonality which he had initially embarked on in Europe. Weill found a new direction as a Broadway musical composer and could well be considered as a predecessor of Leonard Bernstein. Arnold Schönberg, in turn, was an important paragon for the aspiring composer Kurt Weill who for a while considered studying under Schönberg in Vienna. The plan fell through due to Weill lacking the financial means to cover the expensive private lessons.

Samuel Pisar was born in Poland, survived two years of Soviet occupation and four years deportation to Auschwitz and other death camps. At 16, he was the only survivor of his family and school. He became a US citizen in 1961. Today, he works as an internationally renowned lawyer. Pisar served as an advisor to President Kennedy and the US State Department, UN agencies and the International Olympic Committee. In 1989, Leonard Bernstein, a lifelong friend of Samuel Pisar, invited him to write the words for the international concert commemorating the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II.

Premiere of the reconstructed version of Weill's 'Das Berliner Requiem' by David Drew.

European premiere of Bernstein's Kaddish Symphony with words written by Samuel Pisar.