"In the Ruins of Berlin" – Songs After the War
Prof. Dr. Carolin Stahrenberg (Linz) at “Music + Knowledge – The FZM Event Series”
Contributors
Program
We cordially invite you to a new event in the “musik + wissen” series presented by the Freiburg Research and Teaching Center for Music (FZM).
How does one sing after the war? Shouldn’t the terrible events have silenced us? How—and through what themes—can one find one’s voice again? Prof. Carolin Stahrenberg, Ph.D. (Professor of Musicology at the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz), explores these questions through the lens of popular songs following World War I and World War II, highlighting key themes: The diverse spectrum of internationally interconnected song production ranges from hopeful visions of the future and nostalgic reflections to the creation of imaginative alternative spaces and urgent warnings against new violence. In doing so, the lecture critically frames the concept of the “postwar period” and discusses the popular song as a medium for coming to terms with and reflecting on the past, but also as a cautionary commentary on contemporary social developments extending beyond the immediate postwar years.
The songs of the postwar era will be performed by Bernadette Wehr and Elza Loginova (vocals) and Anna Bilo and Simon Fallert (piano), students at the College of Music in Freiburg.
The concert evening is being held in cooperation with the Center for Popular Culture and Music (ZPKM) and serves as the opening event for the conference “Popular Music and the Postwar Era.”
The event is open to the public, and admission is free. Afterward, there will be an opportunity to raise a glass and engage in informal conversation. We look forward to seeing you there!
