Musica di strada

Italians in Prenzlauer Berg

Trade, Craft & Music

Exhibition from June 9, 2023 to October 19, 2025

Museum Pankow – Kultur- und Bildungszentrum Sebastian Haffner

Barrel organ player in a Berlin backyard, 1925

Beginning in the mid-19th century, Italians were drawn from the mountains of northern Italy to the rest of the world. Between 1861 and 1914, around 14 million people left their homeland in search of better living and working conditions. One destination was the growing metropolis of Berlin, where the settlement of Italians was primarily concentrated in Prenzlauer Berg.
With their specialty crafts and trades, Italian immigrants shaped the district for decades. The company Cocchi, Bacigalupo & Graffigna on Schönhauser Allee became world-famous with its production of barrel organs and orchestrions. Several of these are on display in the exhibition, alongside other mechanical musical instruments. As part of the multi-year extensive renewal of the Märkisches Museum, this unique collection of the Stadtmuseum Berlin is on loan to the Museum Pankow.
The exhibition in cooperation with the Stadtmuseum Berlin connects the settlement and migration history of the Italians with the history of mechanical music. Regular demonstrations of the historical instruments bring them to life. An extensive accompanying program, including events for children and school groups, music events, film series, city rallies, and guided tours, complements the exhibition.

An exhibition by Museum Pankow. In cooperation with the Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin. Supported by the Lotto Stiftung Berlin and the Bezirkskulturfonds. Supported by the Internationale Drehorgelfreunde Berlin e. V.

Staff of the company Cocchi, Bacigalupo & Graffigna (1891-1903), Schönhauser Allee 78, c. 1900

exhibition opening

Donnerstag, 08.06.2023, 19.00-22.00 Uhr
Kultur- und Bildungszentrum Sebastian Haffner in der Prenzlauer Allee 227/228

The Pankow Museum and the Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin cordially invite you to the opening of the exhibition.

greeting
Bernt Roder , director of the Pankow Museum
Paul Spies , Director of the Berlin City Museum Foundation
greetings
Representative of the district office Berlin-Pankow
Dott.ssa Francesca Moschitta , cultural officer at the Italian Cultural Institute in Berlin
dr Marion Bleß , Berlin Lottery Foundation

  • Filmic insights into the research in Italy.
  • Conversation with the curator Anne Franzkowiak, the migration expert Prof. Carlo Stiaccini from Genoa and the museum director Bernt Roder
    Moderator: Bettina Tacke

musical accompaniment
Italian canzoni performed by the band »… e la luna?«
DJ Peppino
Internationale Drehorgelfreunde Berlin e. V.

Abbau des Orchestrions im Märkischen Museum

Video zum Abbau des Orchestrions im Stadtmuseum Berlin
Video-Standbild: Abbau des Orchestrions im Märkischen Museum #stadtmuseumunterwegs

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