An embargo was placed on Hans Winterberg's musical estate, forbidding access or performances until 40 years after his death (January 1, 2031), and stipulating he be referred to only as a 'Sudeten German composer', with any mention of his Jewish heritage forbidden.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Hans Winterberg's music is described as identifiably Czech, featuring polyrhythms, broken lyricism, and plangent dissonances, developed in the wake of Janáček's redefinition of Czech music.
Performer Biography
The Amernet String Quartet, praised for their 'intelligence' and 'immensely satisfying' playing by The New York Times, is Ensemble-in-Residence at Florida International University in Miami.
Historical Context
Winterberg's marriage to a non-Jewish woman with a young child initially granted him a 'privileged marriage' status during the Nazi regime, temporarily sparing him internment.
Composer Biography
Winterberg's mother and his first piano teacher, Theresa Wallerstein, were murdered in the Maly Trostinets concentration camp in 1942.
Composer Biography
Hans Winterberg's family identified as both linguistically and culturally Czech in the 1930 census, despite speaking German at home, a decision that would determine his future.
Composition History
The embargo on Hans Winterberg's music was broken through the intervention of his grandson, Peter Kreitmeir, along with Randol Schoenberg and Michael Haas, leading to the first post-embargo performances in 2016.
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