HAMBURG, AMBURGO! ESSIGSTADT!
A Theatrical Free Jazz Oratorio Based on the Forgotten Letters and Collages of Anita Rée (1895–1933)

HAMBURG, AMBURGO! ESSIGSTADT! is a genre-defying performance that brings to life the forgotten collage-letters of painter Anita Rée, written in 1929 during a honeymoon journey through Italy and France. These multilingual postcards—playful, absurd, and emotionally raw—feature whimsical depictions of breasts alongside reflections on longing, alienation, envy, and a growing frustration with Hamburg.

Structured as a theatrical free jazz oratorio, each movement of the composition corresponds to one of Rée’s original postcards. Every word she wrote forms the foundation of the libretto. Inspired by the collage-like form of her work, the music weaves together elements of modern jazz, classical music, spoken word, and experimental theater, creating a vivid and deeply personal portrait of a woman at odds with her time.

Conceived by composer Tristan Xavier Köster, the work is a sonic snapshot of 1929—a year marked by transformation and the looming rise of fascism, which would ultimately reshape the world and tragically impact Rée’s own life.

Performed by an experimental ensemble, soprano, and accompanied by visual projections of Rée’s artwork, HAMBURG, AMBURGO! ESSIGSTADT! is both a tribute and an act of remembrance. It honors Anita Rée’s visionary spirit and reclaims her voice as a vital witness to a civilization on the brink.

Concept and Composition: Tristan Xavier Köster
Voice: Lisa Florentine Schmalz
Flute: Clémence Manachère
Clarinet: Noam Carmon
Violoncello: Tristan Xavier Köster
Drums/Percussion: Dirk Achim Dhonau
Stage Design and Film: David Ronner
Post-Concert Discussion: Volker Lang