Ragna Schirmer, Axel Ranisch and Matthias Daneck
Did the GDR have a sound of its own?
How political can musical compositions be?
What images do the lyrics paint, what ideals are reflected in them, and what visions of the future shine through?
Pianist Ragna Schirmer, drummer Matthias Daneck, and actor, director, and author Axel Ranisch demonstrate in words and music how dissent arises in the field of tension between conformity and secret criticism, and how conformist art can simultaneously expose the corrosive power of authoritarian states.
Well-known names such as Paul Dessau, Friedrich Goldmann, Bertolt Brecht, Thomas Brasch, Sarah Kirsch, and Eva Strittmatter meet with pieces that have rarely been heard before. The juxtaposition of subtle to overt criticism of the regime and official slogans, of avant-garde sounds and conformist melodies, makes clear how artists navigated between loyalty to the regime and resistance. In addition, poems about everyday life, childhood, or the passing of the seasons reveal the ordinariness of private life, filled with longings, worries, and memories, giving the compilation an intimate human dimension.
The program takes a contentious look at the struggle between the desire for normality, subordination, and rebellion from 1949 to 1990—and challenges us to reflect on the role of art in society in the face of today's crises.
