Vocal Resistance at the New York Festival of Song

The New Yorker

by Alex Ross

February 23, 2026

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The New York Festival of Song (NYFOS) recently presented a thought-provoking program titled "Fugitives," exploring the lives and works of Jewish composers who fled Nazi Europe during the 1930s. The event, held at Merkin Hall, featured composers such as Friedrich Hollaender, Arnold Schoenberg, Kurt Weill, and Franz Schreker, whose stories of exile, resilience, and ultimate contributions to music were interwoven with the theme of "Fugitives." These artists faced unimaginable challenges during one of history's darkest periods, yet their music endured, offering a profound reflection on survival, creativity, and displacement. The program not only celebrated their musical legacies but also highlighted the human cost of the Nazi regime and the importance of artistic resistance in the face of oppression. The evening began with a focus on the composers' origins, particularly the fin-de-siècle Vienna that shaped figures like Alexander Zemlinsky and Alban Berg. The program included works by lesser-known artists such as Georg Jokl, whose haunting lullaby "Abendlied" (Evening Song) served as a poignant reminder of the lives lost or forgotten during the Holocaust. These pieces, often written in exile, carried a deeply personal and emotional weight, underscoring how music became both a refuge and a means of preserving identity for these composers. The event also showcased NYFOS's signature

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Originally published on The New Yorker on 2/23/2026