otv on the Beer-Wabrunn Days 2025 and Lars David Kellner, art harmonium

"Beer-Walbrunns works suited surprisingly well"

Kohlberg

Music of an almost forgotten composer – Beer-Walbrunn Days in Kohlberg

The composer Anton Beer-Walbrunn was long considered forgotten. At the Beer-Walbrunn Days in Kohlberg, his work has now been brought back to life – with harmonium, readings and a great deal of passion.

The Nikolauskirche in Kohlberg was once again dedicated to Anton Beer-Walbrunn. The composer, who was born in Kohlberg and died in Munich in 1929, had been forgotten for decades—until Martin Valeske rediscovered him in a newspaper article in 2009. He found original manuscripts in the Munich City Library and began transcribing Beer-Walbrunn's works and making them performable. Since 2014, the annual Beer-Walbrunn Days have commemorated the composer. This year, pianist and harmonist Lars David Kellner performed selected pieces on the harmonium. Although the instrument is rarely used in today's music world, it was surprisingly well suited to Beer-Walbrunn's compositions. The concert was complemented by Susanne Sperrhake, who provided insights into the artist's life and thinking with texts from letters. Even though the church was not filled to the last seat, the organizers' goal remains clear: to preserve Anton Beer-Walbrunn's work from being forgotten again.