KlangFarben – The Patron and the Composer

Winnaretta Singer (1865–1943) was an influential networker in the arts who was also highly talented as a painter and, above all, as a musician. She used her vast fortune, derived from the Singer sewing machine dynasty, to acquire works by Manet and Monet, among others, at the early stages of their careers. In particular, however, she supported music through numerous composition commissions (for composers such as Stravinsky, Satie, and Ravel) as well as by hosting hundreds of concerts at her villa in Paris. There, alongside many Bach cantatas and early music, contemporary works such as the string quartets by Borodin and Debussy were performed. Although she loved women, she married Edmond de Polignac, who loved men. They complemented each other perfectly. Polignac was himself a recognized composer. His works have now been completely forgotten. Thus, his string quartet takes center stage in the “Klangfarben” concert, marking its first revival since Singer’s Paris salon. The Palazzo Contarini in Venice, which Monet painted on several occasions (also on view at the exhibition), was purchased by Winnaretta Singer as a gift for Edmond de Polignac. One can almost still hear the music—such as that played there by Artur Rubinstein—in the colors of Monet’s paintings. 

In cooperation with the Kammerakademie Potsdam 

KlangFarben 
The Patron and the Composer 
Friday, November 13, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Museum Barberini  
Tickets: €29 (includes admission to the exhibition on that day starting at 5:30 p.m.) 

Program: 
Edmond de Polignac, String Quartet No. 2 in F Major 
Alexander Borodin, String Quartet No. 2 in D Major, 2nd Movement: Scherzo 

With: 
Peter Rainer, violin 
Michiko Iiyoshi, violin 
Jennifer Anschel, viola 
Alma-Sophie Starke, cello 
Clemens Goldberg, host 
Ortrud Westheider, Director of the Museum Barberini