Schoeberg’s Return

This short video honours the composer’s 1933 “Re-Entry into the Community of Israel.” It’s my 6th annual commemoration of the event. 

On July 24th ninety-three years ago, in a public gesture against rising European antisemitism, Arnold Schoenberg renounced his youthful conversion to Christianity and affirmed his solidarity with the Jewish people. The small ceremony in Paris was witnessed by Rabbi Lévy and Schoenberg’s friends, including the painter Marc Chagall.
 
In 2021, I decided to honour his gesture with a collage of readings from his letters, political statements and librettos. I’ve done it a little differently each year since, sometimes with other people as readers and audience.

Next year I hope to include participants again, as part of my long-term interest in hybrid live/online theatre events. And I aim to upgrade my technology and technique to avoid the kind of small glitches that still show up in this video.
 
I’m only somewhat familiar with Schoenberg’s work, but as a theatre artist and singer fascinated by the human voice, I was instantly captivated by the choral Sprechstimme (“speaking-singing”) in his opera Moses and Aaron. His personal story is inspiring, and his questions and convictions about art, religion and politics resonate with me deeply.