HOLLYWOOD and the RED SCARE: the Deportation of Hanns Eisle

A concert

February 22, 2020

8 p.m.

Winifred Smith Hall

Austrian composer Hanns Eisler settled in the United States in 1938 after fleeing National Socialism in Germany. He found success in Hollywood, writing numerous film scores, and continued to write songs and orchestral works.

In 1947, as part of the first-wave of anti-Communist “witch-hunts” in Hollywood, he was interrogated by the HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) and blacklisted. Described by Republicans as “the Karl Marx of music,” Eisler left the United States in 1948 and eventually settled in East Germany, where he composed the national anthem for the GDR.

This program of songs from the “Hollywood Songbook” by Hanns Eisler uses text from the actual HUAC interrogations of Eisler in order to shed light on one of the most divisive periods of the Cold War, and features internationally-acclaimed artists.

Participants:

Andreas Mitisek, piano (Director/Conductor Long Beach Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre, Seattle Opera, Arena di Verona, etc.)
Suzan Hanson, soprano (LBO, Chicago Opera Theatre, San Francisco Opera, Verona, Florence, Carnegie Hall, etc.)
Robin Buck, baritone (LBO, NY City Opera, LA Opera, Basel Opera, Zurich Opera, Chicago Symphony, Carnegie Hall, etc.)
With a talk by Dr. Stephan Hammel (UCI)

Music by Hanns Eisler

Script by Robin Buck

Free admission with registration