Gabriele Droste und Rainer Maria Klaas: Warum lacht die Mona Lisa? (Literaturtage Recklinghausen 2026)

“Why Is the Mona Lisa Smiling?” – Kurt Tucholsky in Words and Music

Sharp-witted, humorous, and surprisingly relevant today: Kurt Tucholsky ranks among the most significant satirists and social critics of the 20th century. His work takes aim at the abuse of power, militarism, and social injustices with the same precision as it does at the small observations of everyday life.

In their new program, reciter Gabriele Droste and pianist Rainer Maria Klaas explore Tucholsky’s diverse body of lyrical work. Blending satirical texts, poetic moments, and musical works from various eras, they create a varied evening that brings together literature and piano music.

Whether it’s city life, the seasons, the fate of the “little people,” or Tucholsky’s unsparing criticism of the precursors of National Socialism—his texts have lost none of their sharpness or relevance to this day. Hovering over it all is the question posed in the title: Why is the Mona Lisa still smiling?

A literary and musical evening full of humor, reflection, and timeless social criticism.