“Clown, you've lost your position!” Friedrich Hollaender on the 130th anniversary of his birth, featuring “Chanson-Nette” Jeannette Urzendowsky and Tal Balshai (piano/vocals).

And he was a regular at the legendary Romanisches Café on what is now Breitscheidplatz in Berlin (near Bahnhof Zoo); indeed, he even immortalised the bustling life of this former haunt of Berlin’s bohemian set in his revue *Bei uns um die Gedächtniskirche rum*.

On 18 October this year, he would have celebrated his 130th birthday – a wonderful occasion to pay him a tribute that combines entertainment with depth: naturally at today’s ‘Romanisches Café’, an exhibition on the history of the café at its original location in what is now the Europa-Center.

Welcome to this musical and cabaret-style encounter with Friedrich Hollaender, his poetry, music and his chansons.

‘Chanson-Nette’ and Tal Balshai will perform and sing evergreens, as well as lesser-known songs by the ‘great little Friedrich’, as Charlie Chaplin affectionately called him.

With imagination and sensitivity, he captured the lively, colourful – yet also sorrowful – images of his time. He created classics that remain politically relevant to this day. He made cabaret a major genre in its own right.

Through his art, Hollaender fought against hatred and violence. The Nazis persecuted him because of his views and his Jewish heritage. He even wrote a parody about this: ‘It’s all the Jews’ fault …’

In 1933, Hollaender fled to Hollywood. In 1955, he returned to Germany.

Friedrich Hollaender forever!!!