Brecht evening in Karben: A masterpiece against social injustices

Brecht evening in Karben: A masterpiece against social injustices

Last Friday evening, a full Brecht evening took place in Peter Mayer's "Kuhtelier", organized by the Karben Cultural Quartet. The sold-out evening focused on Bertolt Brecht, particularly his lyrical works. Jazz sounds by Nicola Piesch and Dieter Wierz were cleverly woven into this artistic framework, while Barbara Metz and Dieter Körber recited Brecht's poems. It is noted that the well-known songs from the “Threepenny Opera” were only performed sparsely – only “The Morality of Mackie Messer” was heard – but Brecht's powerful and often political lyrics were well received by those present. Körber encouraged the audience right at the beginning of the evening with the words: “Think!” – an invitation that plays a major role in Brecht’s entire oeuvre.

There was also a special reason to celebrate for Almut Rose, who, as chairwoman of the Karben Literature Forum, celebrated her birthday during this event. The works of Brecht, who was born in Augsburg in 1898, were presented chronologically. After a brief look at his school career and his rejection of his planned medical studies, it becomes understandable how Brecht became one of the most important German writers of the 20th century.

From the early years to exile

After graduating from high school, Brecht reported for military service in 1917. A rebellion against the circumstances that he did not want to put up with ran through his entire life. His first literary activities began early, and in 1922 he experienced his first successes with the premiere of “Drumming in the Night” and the publication of “Baal”. In 1924 Brecht moved to Berlin and founded the concept of epic theater with Erwin Piscator. This form of theater challenged the audience to critically reflect on the events and to deal with the prevailing conditions rather than emotionally suffering - a cornerstone of his poetic and dramatic works, as epic theater explains. Planet knowledge emphasizes that Brecht actively involved the audience in the thought process through targeted alienation effects.

The central themes in Brecht's poems and plays were always social injustices and dissatisfaction with the political situation. Brecht's exile from 1933, after the National Socialists came to power, sheds further light on his works, which dealt with exclusion and repression. Poems such as “Legend of the Dead Soldier” and “Of the Drowned Girl” were recited to make clear how the poet reacted to the atrocities of war and the hardship of his time.

A call for debate

The other poems presented included “The Farewell” and “Discovery of a Young Woman,” while the socially critical disagreements, such as those found in “The Leader Said” and “The Three Soldiers and the Class Struggle,” were also not to be missed. These works are important because they not only convey Brechtian views, but also represent a reflection of society and its conflicts. The evening ended with moving texts such as "And what did the soldier's wife get?" and the "Peace Song", which expresses Brecht's striving for a better world and the ideas of peace and humanity.

The combination of music and poetry as well as the numerous personal stories shared during the evening made this Brecht evening an event to remember. Brecht's work is still seen today as a form of artistic resistance, which is also evidenced by the analyzes of his poems, which show that he always denounced the injustices of the time and honored the achievements and lives of ordinary citizens. The mechanism behind it demonstrates Brecht's talent to not only transform words into powerful poems, but also to capture the spirit of his time and address it in a powerful way. Abipur The report makes it clear that Brecht advocated a peaceful society that does not have class differences and is based on the fundamental values ​​of equality and understanding.