Summer book tips: Discover Joseph Schmidt's eventful life!

Summer book tips: Discover Joseph Schmidt's eventful life!

What's new in Karben? The city is all about literature, because Michael Rettinger and Almut Rose-Köbe from the Karben Literature Forum have some exciting book tips for the summer. Almut Rose-Köbe can particularly recommend the book “A Song in All Things” by Stefan Sprang, which vividly traces the eventful life of the Jewish tenor Joseph Schmidt. In the 1930s he was known as a radio star and the audience's favorite child. His escape from the Nazis took him throughout Europe until he died in Switzerland at the age of just 38. The focus of the novel is the explosive topic of “escape”, which also has resonance today.

The work is praised by critics for its atmospheric scenes and musical-poetic sound. Joseph Schmidt is introduced as an extraordinary person and artist whose life is characterized by ups and downs.

An exciting picture of life

“A Song in All Things: Joseph Schmidt” deals extensively with the tenor’s biography. Sprang found distraction when he discovered a double album with Schmidt's hits and an article about his life story in the apartment of a previous tenant. This resulted in 329 pages that provide insights into Schmidt's life. Born in 1904 into a German-speaking Jewish family in Davydivka, he grew up in Chernivtsi. With financial support from his uncle, Schmidt studied singing in Berlin and made his radio debut in 1929. He quickly became a star on stage and in films, even becoming known as “the German Caruso”.

Despite being only 1.54 meters tall, which initially made him seem too small for the big stage, he became an audience favorite. His last radio opera performance in Berlin took place on February 20, 1933, and he was banned from broadcasting a week later.

The Artist's Escape

Schmidt's escape from Germany was dramatic. Just one day after the premiere of his film “A Song Goes Around the World” he had to set off, first fleeing to Austria and then on to Brussels when the Nazis took power. The journey took him on to Nice and finally to a Swiss reception camp, where he died in 1942.

In addition to Schmidt's extraordinary musical achievements, Sprang's book also focuses on the social and historical contexts of his time, such as Berlin in the 1920s. Despite some criticism of the book's language, which has been described as flowery, the overall picture remains captivating and impressive.

Michael Rettinger, on the other hand, plans to work on Johann Gottfried Herder's “Journal of my journey in 1769”. This significant literary-philosophical document of the 18th century suggests Herder's opposition to Kant and the Enlightenment of the time. The Karben Literature Forum is already looking at a varied program for 2026, which will also deal with Herder's ideas.

Overall, the reading recommendations from Rettinger and Rose-Köbe prove that literature always reminds us of directors and contemporary witnesses who were able to overcome the shadows of their time through their courage and talent. Whether you are interested in Joseph Schmidt's eventful escape story or Herder's philosophical ideas, the selection is promising and leaves you wanting more.

For further information about Schmidt's eventful life and the many facets of his artistic work, we recommend taking a look at the complete reports: Giessen General, BR Classic and Historical Tenors.