Welcome to Shanghai! Don’t let the heat get you down, for a lost soul in the late 1930s, this is the only place that’ll take you!
Shanghai Sonatas explores the remarkable exchange of cultures between Jewish refugees escaping Nazis and their Chinese hosts. Framed by the fading glamour of this “Paris of the East” and the urgency to escape violent prejudice, stories of survival, moments of compassion, forbidden love, and – above all – beautiful music bring these two communities closer than ever before.
“We tell a story about people in a city where they never expected
theyʼd belong.”
Promoting the unifying power of music on all peoples, Shanghai Sonatas is gaining international attention and support for its universal themes of belonging, unity, and hope. It brings Chinese Kuaiban Rap and Chinese Instruments into the limelight alongside violins to bring a unique new sound to the American stage.
“Music produces a kind of pleasure
which human nature cannot do without.”
– Confucius (510 BC)
SSER’ s lectures, open discussions, showcases, workshops, and exhibitions at museums and schools will allow students to meet and work with scholars, historians, Shanghai ghetto survivors, the creative team, and performers. The experts will also work with educators in the fields of history, creative writing, classical music, and theatre to gain new context for debates and reflection on untold stories and historical events.
