"Under the bright blue sky of California live the German and Austrian émigrés. Alive by the skin of their teeth, they could work, perform their music in the famous Hollywood Bowl, or collaborate with the film industry, live in the glamorous atmosphere of Pacific Palisades, Bel-Air, Hollywood and Palm Springs, and long for their European homeland from which they had to flee: displaced persons in Paradise."

Peter Rosen's 2009 film captures the sense of cultural limbo and disconnections that afflicted 30,000 intellectuals who were exiled from Europe when Hitler came to power, in effect extinguishing the creative embers of Berlin in the twenties and practically overnight transforming L.A. into one of the capitals of world culture. With rare footage of Thomas Mann, Stravinsky, Brecht, Fritz Lang, among many luminaries.

Mr. Rosen will introduce his film. Read more >>
Bio fo Mr. Rosen

Presented in collaboration with the Berkshire Museum.
For reservations: Berkshire Museum 413.443.7171

A favorite of Benjamin Britten, who composed the title role of his television opera Owen Wingrave specifically for Luxon’s voice, he made his debut at both the Royal Opera House and Covent Garden, creating the role of the Jester in Peter Maxwell Davies’ opera Taverner, and at the Glyndebourne Opera Festival.

Thereafter, he enjoyed a hectic international

In 1988 while rehearsing at the Paris Opera, the piano began sounding to him like a hurdy gurdy, and a few years later his career was cut short in its prime by every musician’s nightmare—acute hearing loss. These days he lives in the Berkshires and entertains audiences with his acting and with the spoken word, performing in plays and reciting poetry, including a recital of Victorian era poems and songs with fellow Brit and neighbor, author Simon Winchester.

Benjamin Luxon dips into his rich experiences to regale with anecdotes and observations, and shares his artistic credo and take on the current state of the music and opera world.

Bio for Mr. Luxon