Etta Scollo Trio & Maria Schrader

In honor of the German-Jewish poet Mascha Kaléko, Etta Scollo and Maria Schrader, together with the Etta Scollo Trio, are presenting an extraordinary stage project that blends music, poetry, and remembrance. Titled “Nirgendland,” the evening brings Kaléko’s subtle melancholy, humor, and linguistic precision to life anew.

Mascha Kaléko (1907–1975) was regarded as the voice of an entire generation. In the Berlin coffeehouses of the 1930s, she became an instant sensation with her “Lyrisches Stenogrammheft” (Lyrical Shorthand Notebook)—her poems reflect the spirit of big-city life, at once astute and tender. After fleeing the Nazis, she lived in exile in New York and later in Jerusalem. Her texts tell of uprooting, belonging, and the search for home—themes that seem more relevant today than ever. “Wherever I travel, I’m heading for Nowhere,” reads one of her poems—a line that lends its title to the evening.

The Italian-German musician Etta Scollo, known for her poetic compositions that blend chanson, world music, and classical music, interprets Kaléko’s poetry with delicate musicality. Together with her trio—Susanne Paul (cello) and Tara Bouman (clarinet)—she creates a rich, emotional soundscape in which words and music intertwine.

Etta Scollo, born in Catania, is regarded in Germany as the “Voice of Sicily.” She has received several awards for her “Canta Ro” project, including the RUTH World Music Prize. The singer, composer, and producer has released 19 albums to date and has been awarded two Gold Records. In addition to her work in opera and theater, she dedicates herself to reinterpreting traditional Sicilian music in collaboration with renowned orchestras. Her compositions blend music with literature and poetry—currently featuring the poetry of Mascha Kaléko. In June 2024, she was honored by Italian President Sergio Mattarella with the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in the rank of Officer.

Maria Schrader, born in 1965, is an actress, screenwriter, and director. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Max Ophüls Prize, the Hessian Film Prize, the Bavarian Film Prize, the German Film Prize, the Silver Bear at the Berlinale, the German Audiobook Prize, and many more. She made her directorial debut in 2007 with *Liebesleben*; her second film, *Vor der Morgenröte*, won the Audience Award at the 2017 European Film Awards and was Austria’s Oscar nominee in the “Best Foreign Language Film” category. In 2020, she received a Primetime Emmy Award in the “Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries” category for the Netflix miniseries “Unorthodox.” In 2021, Maria Schrader’s film “Ich bin dein Mensch” was released, and in 2022, “She Said” premiered at the New York Film Festival.

Etta Scollo Trio & Maria Schrader

“Nirgendland” – A Literary and Musical Evening in Honor of Mascha Kaléko

• Monday, April 29, 2027
• Doors open: 7:30 p.m.
• Start: 8:00 p.m.