It so happens that when we hear the word “cabaret” we can’t help but visualize a certain type of venue with repertoire far from being too intellectual. Fun and dance and nudity and vivid costumes are the common clichés. And this iconic image is popularized by the famous 1984 Bob Fosse movie, for instance. The original cabarets of late 19th earlier 20th centuries had little to do with that image, though. Irony was nothing but a small part of this “circus for brain, spiritual somersault”, as poet and scholar Max Herrmann-Neisse once dubbed it.

Opened in 1881 in Montmartre, Le Chat Noir is thought to be the first modern cabaret: a nightclub where the patrons sat at tables and drank alcoholic beverages while being entertained by a variety show on stage. The acts were introduced by a master of ceremonies who interacted with well-known patrons at the tables. Soon the “cabaret epidemic” embraced almost all social classes, and similar clubs were mushrooming all over France, then in Germany and Austria. During the lecture, we’ll talk about first French and Austro-German cabarets, starting from the aforementioned “Black Cat” to Viennese “Bat”.

Marina Koschcheeva is musicologist, Gnessin Academy graduate, and an editor of the Zaryadye Hall. She is currently working on her thesis on the history of Austro-German cabarets.