Café der toten Komponisten
Three composers—Bach, Beethoven, and Shostakovich—debate the relationship between art and society across time. Bach discusses his experiences with sacred and secular music in Leipzig, navigating courtly and civic employers. Beethoven reflects on the shift from feudal to bourgeois society, the Enlightenment, and Napoleon's era, while dealing with hearing loss. Shostakovich addresses the complexities of political favor and oppression in his art, drawing inspiration from both Beethoven and Bach.