Lot 442: Jonny Mene La Danse.

Written by Ernst Krenek, Jonny Mene La Danse (originally titled just Jonny) was billed as a modern jazz opera, and is considered one of the earliest musical pieces blatantly confronting issues of racism. Undergoing several revisions, the plot ultimately revolves around the jazz musician Jonny who steals a high-end instrument, seduces the public with his deft musical abilities, ultimately bringing black musical culture above that of all others. Openly condemned by the Nazis, performances of the show in Munich in 1927 were met with stink bombs going off in the theater. This did nothing to quell the demand for the production, which was quickly translated into at least ten different languages, appearing on over 50 stages across Europe.

28 x 31 1/2 in./58.3 x 80 cm

1928

A.