Against a blue wall decorated with vinyl record motifs and a white quote, a person in the foreground holds a square board with a graphic design depicting hands in various gestures. In the background, there are two people, one of whom is holding a vinyl record. The scene takes place at a music or art exhibition.

Broken
Harmonies.
Kleist and Music

until 30 August 2026

Press photos

Open book displaying the title page of "Ouverture" by Joseph Joachim on the left, with sheet music on the right. The scene conveys a historical and artistic tone.
Overture by Joseph Joachim ©Gordon Welters
Two people wearing headphones, smiling at each other, with a live concert playing on a screen behind them. The scene conveys enjoyment and connection.
Listening station ©Gordon Welters
Flute from Kleist's time ©Gordon Welters
Flute from Kleist's time ©Gordon Welters

In 1811, Heinrich von Kleist wanted to "occupy himself with nothing but music" for a year. Everything he "thought about poetry was related to sounds". Since then, a large number of instrumental works and operas have been written about Kleist's life and work, ranging from late Romanticism to electronic music. Both the significance of music for Kleist and the history of its musical impact are presented in the exhibition.

The musical adaptations focus on operas based on his comedy 'Der zerbrochene Krug' (The broken jug) by Viktor Ullmann, Zbyněk Vostřák and Fritz Geißler.

Get to know a lesser-known facet of Heinrich von Kleist's life, work and reception in this exhibition.

Involved

Curation: Dr Adrian Schliebe

Design: Studio Neue Museen, Halle (Saale)

Supported by: The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Ministry of Science, Research and Culture (State of Brandenburg), City of Frankfurt (Oder)

Tours

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