New Century Chamber Orchestra

New Century opens its 30th Anniversary Season with a gripping musical radio drama that will transport you back to the seismic cultural shifts happening in 1938’s Berlin. Gathering clouds of war in Europe loomed large over the events of that year, fueling the songwriters of the era to create works stunning in their candor, humor and commentary about the rapid changes in German society and growing threats of violence. In this innovative multimedia production, Music Director Daniel Hope and New Century will take you on a fascinating musical tour of works by Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht, Hanns Eisler, and more, while vocalists Thomas Hampson and Horst Maria Merz narrate the action in the dual roles of radio broadcasters and singers.

Celebrate opening night with the company!

All ticket holders to the Friday, September 16 performance of Berlin 1938 are invited to a special opening night after-party in the outdoor courtyard of the Presidio Theatre. The evening will feature cocktails and swing dancing. Single tickets for this evening are priced slightly higher than the other nights (and include a drink ticket), but if you subscribe and include this concert in your package, you get the party for free!

PROGRAM

The program mixes musical selections, news bulletins, and historic multimedia on a month by month tour through the seismic events of 1938. These will include:

• Popular songs of the era: Sholom Secunda’s Bei mir bist du Schoen, Cole Porter’s Begin the Beguine, and selections from Kurt Weill’s Knickerbocker Holiday.
• Subversive musical protests: Weissert’s Mensch ohne Pass (Person without a Passport), Spoliansky’s Lied vom Stacheldraht (Barbed Wire Song), Leopoldi’s Die Novaks aus Prag (The Novaks from Prague), and Kreisler’s Schlag sie tot (Kill Them!)
• Historical events that defined the era: the Third Reich’s annexation of Austrian and Czech territories, Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds broadcast, the Nazi declaration of “degenerate” music and art, the international debate over accepting Jewish refugees, and the mass destruction of Jewish synagogues and businesses known as Kristallnacht.

COVID-19 Safety

Please see the Presidio Theatre’s Covid-19 Safety policy for current requirements.

Ticketing

This event is ticketed by City Box Office who can be contacted at 415-392-4400 or boxoffice@cityboxoffice.com.