Eisler Shorts

Hanns Eisler’s life as a composer offers a window on the tumult of the 20th century, this afternoon we follow this journey through a diverse range of short films featuring Eisler’s music.

Hanns Eisler’s life as a composer offers a window on the tumult of the 20th century: wounded in the First World War; studied under Schoenberg; began a lifelong collaboration with Bertolt Brecht; fled the Third Reich for Hollywood exile; ostracised as a Communist, and ended his career in East Germany where he wrote the GDR’s national anthem. This afternoon we follow this journey through a diverse range of short films featuring Eisler’s music, including a live performance of his score for Joris Iven’s Rain (1929) by an ensemble from Birmingham Conservatoire. Elizabeth Adam from the Conservatoire will also sing a selection from the composer’s Hollywood Songbook. Part of The REP’s Baal.