This event is organized by the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, the UCLA Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience, the UCLA Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies, and the Thomas Mann House Los Angeles.
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To honor Thomas Mann’s 150th birthday anniversary and to celebrate the premiere of the opera “Schoenberg in Hollywood,” which explores the hypothetical scenario of what would have happened if Schoenberg had composed for Hollywood, this event will explore the fascinating and complex relationship between two key figures of the German-speaking émigré community and their relationship with the Hollywood film industry.
The opera Schoenberg in Hollywood revolves around a historic meeting between the legendary producer Irving G. Thalberg of Metro Goldwyn Mayer and the Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg. Thalberg asks Schoenberg to compose music for a film based on Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth. While Schoenberg was intrigued by the prospect of creating a Hollywood film score that could reach millions, his demand for a $50,000 fee ultimately led to the project falling through. Meanwhile, Thomas Mann also pursued connections with Hollywood, exploring the possibility of adapting The Magic Mountain and his Joseph saga into films. But despite several discussions with producers and studios, these projects never came to fruition. Mann’s interest in cinema, however, extended far beyond personal ambition. His fascination with the medium dates back at least to 1924, as evidenced in his novel The Magic Mountain, in which the protagonist visits a film theater to watch Ernst Lubitsch’s 1920 silent classic Sumurun. During his exile in Los Angeles, Mann developed a deep appreciation for the medium. He frequented his favorite theaters in Westwood, often attending screenings twice a week, and attended Hollywood film premieres. His diaries contain poignant, harsh, and humorous critiques of the films he watched. Mann also built relationships with prominent Hollywood figures, including Jack Warner, Walt Disney, Ernst Lubitsch, Alfred Hitchcock, and others, further cementing his connection to the cinematic world.
This event will delve into the multifaceted relationship between Thomas Mann and Arnold Schoenberg, exploring their Hollywood aspirations, their connections to the film industry, and the cultural exchange between émigrés and Hollywood. European exiled composers, such as Arnold Schoenberg and Franz Waxman, heavily influenced the genre of film music in the 1930s and 1940s. At the same time, Hollywood played a crucial role in supporting refugees, offering work contracts, necessary affidavits, and assistance through non-profit organizations like the “European Film Fund.”
The conversation will be accompanied by a short musical performance on Thomas Mann’s historic piano by acclaimed pianist Inna Faliks (UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music).
This event is organized by the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, the UCLA Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience, the UCLA Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies, and the Thomas Mann House Los Angeles.