The Music of Julia Kerr, Author of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Rediscovered

AI Summary

The music of Julia Kerr, mother of Judith Kerr, author of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, has been rediscovered after being lost for years. Kerr was a gifted composer who fled Nazi Germany with her family in 1933.

The Rediscovery of Julia Kerr's Music

Julia Kerr, a talented composer and mother of Judith Kerr, author of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, had her music lost for years after fleeing Nazi Germany with her family in 1933. However, her compositions have been rediscovered and performed recently.

Chronicles of a Forgotten Composer

Kerr's opera, Chronoplan, was set to premiere in 1933 but was halted due to Hitler's takeover. She took the incomplete score with her when she fled, and it was eventually recorded by Bavarian Broadcasting in 1952, becoming the first opera to have a radio premiere.

The Unveiling of Kerr's Musical Legacy

Descendants gathered at Albert Einstein's former summer house in Caputh, south-west of Berlin, to celebrate Julia Kerr's life and works. Compositions found in archives were performed by singer-actor Ruth Rosenfeld and pianist Norbert Biermann. Historical musicologist Christian Leitmeir played a crucial role in uncovering Kerr's musical legacy.

Reviving a Lost Legacy

The rediscovery of Kerr's work is part of a larger trend of shedding light on forgotten female composers. Her great-grandson, George Kerr, expressed his admiration for her talent and dedication to her family. The Exile Museum in Berlin will feature Julia, Alfred, and Judith's stories in its new exhibit.