Support Chicago performance of exiled composer's music

Team fundraiser

Melissa Primavera and Michael Lahr are organizing this fundraiser to benefit Elysium between two continents, Inc..

Tax deductible

Egon Lustgarten (1887-1961), an Austrian composer of Jewish descent, was forced to emigrate to the United States after Hitler’s annexation of Austria. The Chicago premiere of “Healing a Fractured World: A portrait of exiled composer Egon Lustgarten” brings the composer’s story to life through performance of his rarely heard musical works, narrated personal correspondence, images and a brief lecture.

Composer Egon Lustgarten and his wife Sophia

The mission of The Lahr von Leïtis Academy and Archive, under the auspice of Elysium Between Two Continents is to expose younger generations to exiled art; helping them create a future that incorporates lessons learned from history. The Lahr von Leïtis Academy and Archive has curated and preserved Lustgarten’s musical manuscripts and correspondence which would otherwise remain in the shadows. We aim to bring these musical masterpieces to light so that contemporary audiences can experience their inherent beauty while also gaining an understanding of their significant historical context.

The performance will take place on October 9, 2024 at 7PM at PianoForte Studios 1335 South Michigan Ave, 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60605

Your tax-deductible donation will help us bring this extraordinary program to life by covering program costs including:

Rental of a centrally located performance space with proper equipment that is accessible to individuals with disabilities, ensuring an inclusive, high-quality experience.
Professional audio and video recording, making the program available to broad audiences online and archiving these rare musical works.
Engraving of Lustgarten’s musical manuscripts, facilitating the performance of these obscure works for generations to come.
Honoraria for artists
Printing, promotional and administrative costs

As an expression of our gratitude, donors within the following tiers will receive:

$1,000 or above: Lunch with Michael Lahr, Artistic Director of Elysium Between Two Continents
$500 or above: A private informational Zoom session with the creative team behind “Healing a Fractured World: A portrait of exiled composer Egon Lustgarten” where you can ask questions and learn more about the program.
$250 or above: You'll receive a complimentary signed copy of Michael Lahr's book, Erwin Piscator's Legacy Lives On: Conversations About Theater, Music and Politics
$100 or above: VIP seating at the performance
Any amount: You will receive special thanks in our program!

Double your impact! Many companies offer matching gifts to employees donating to non-profit organizations such as Elysium Between Two Continents. Check with your employer to see if they will match your donation.

Additional program details

A brief opening lecture will give an overview of Lustagrten’s story and the political circumstances that led to his exile. Musical selections will include works for piano, Lieder and opera arias performed by Chicago-based artists Melissa Primavera, Soprano and Sarah Jenks, Pianist. Interspersed with the musical selections will be narration by actor Fred Wellisch of selected letters to Lustgarten’s loved ones and colleagues as well as his diary entries. These media combined will create a portrait of Lustgarten as an artist, emigrant, and human. The music will be sung in German (the composer’s original language) with English supertitles. The narrated components will be in English. Images of the composer and places of importance to his story will also be displayed as part of the performance. Running time is expected to be 60-90 minutes followed by a brief reception to allow for audience reflection, dialogue, and engagement with the performers.

Melissa Primavera, Soprano

Sarah Jenks, Pianist

Fred Wellisch, Actor

Lustgarten’s “Frühlingsruhe” is just one of the many rare musical selections that will be featured in the program. Here is a preview of pianist Sarah Jenks and soprano Melissa Primavera in rehearsal:

This immersive experience will...

Educate audiences on the impacts the Nazi regime had on individuals such as Lustgarten and the criticality of combating hatred, discrimination, and antisemitism in all its forms.
Sharing Lustgarten’s story to prompt thought and connection to similar stories of exiled individuals
Humanize the emigrant experience by creating a portrait of Lustgarten’s multiple identities beyond his status as an emigrant.
Foster inspiration through Lustgarten’s ability to overcome impossible circumstances to continue creating his art.
Premier selections from Lustgarten’s extensive music catalogue to Chicago audiences

Elysium Between Two Continents fosters artistic and academic dialogue, creative and educational exchange and mutual friendship between the United States of America and Europe. Through art, Elysium fights against ignorance, discrimination, racism, hatred, anti-Semitism, and forgetting or trivializing the Holocaust. Elysium’s history is closely linked with Erwin Piscator and his groundbreaking ideas of a politically and socially relevant theater. Founded in 1983 by Gregorij von Leïtis as a theater company in New York, Elysium presented numerous American premieres of German-language plays in English translation. During the last two decades, one programmatic focus has been the rediscovery and presentation of music and literature created by artists who were persecuted by the Nazis. Michael Lahr is the Artistic Director and Gregorij von Leïtis is the Co-Founder and Honorary Artistic Director of Elysium Between Two Continents.