so powerful to come across this piece in post magazine when i just saw mahler’s “kindertotenlieder” at the eastman school of music last night. mahler’s song cycle is based on poems by friedrich rückert. rückert wrote the 428 poems known collectively as “kindertotenlieder” in 1833-34 as an outpouring of grief following the death of two of his children. in this sobering audio-visual presentation, directed by dr emil homerin, mahler’s music and rückert’s hearbreaking words are interspersed with facts about child mortality in rochester both in the 1900s and now. it’s shocking (and shameful) that 50% of rochester’s children live below the poverty line. only three other american cities have higher child poverty rates than rochester: detroit, cleveland and dayton, ohio. of course, the affluent live as well as in any other wealthy city of the world. such inequity and injustice. we are all responsible. more about the fringe festival’s presentation of kindertotenlieder here.