"Let´s Do It" Songs von Cole Porter

In the organizer's words:

"Anything I can do, you can do better." Irving Berlin in a letter to Cole Porter

Born in Peru, Indiana in 1891, Cole Porter grew up in a very wealthy family.

His extraordinary musical talent became apparent at an early age and was particularly encouraged by his mother.

It was only after taking a detour to study law, which he then abandoned, that he devoted himself fully to his music, composing, writing and performing. Although dropping out of university led to his grandfather disinheriting him, his mother shared her inheritance with him. Throughout his life, he was to be one of the few musicians who had no money worries and could live in luxury.

After his first, less successful production on Broadway (1916), he traveled to Europe in 1917, where he met his future wife, Linda Lee Thomas. They married in 1919 despite his - and her - known homosexuality. They spent a large part of the 1920s in Europe, mostly in Paris or Venice. Cole Porter was not very successful during this time. He continued to work on his music, constantly encouraged by his wife Linda Lee Thomas.

Cole Porter was a great and original lyricist and one of the few great songwriters who could do both lyrics and music. He often wrote lyrics and music at the same time; he could write anywhere, even in a cab or at parties.

In the late 1920s, his professional situation improved considerably, his songs became better known and Broadway and Hollywood performed his compositions. In the 1930s, he advanced to the premier league of the so-called Great American Songbook, a loosely defined collection of jazz standards from the 1920s to the 1950s.

In 1937, he suffered serious injuries in a riding accident, which left him with numerous operations and constant pain for many years. Understandably, this also led to a slump in his creative output. He made a major comeback in 1948 with the musical KISS ME KATE.

He died in California in 1964.

Many of his songs are still world classics today, without people even knowing that they were written by him. When you hear one or two songs, you will probably think: "Ah, that song is by Cole Porter!".

© Beate Hoffmann, Gertraud Thalhammer (2026)

Vitae

Gertraud Thalhammer studied classical singing at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne. Since graduating, she has worked as a singer in concert and musical theater and as a singing teacher, including at the Engelbert Humperdinck Music School.

Her repertoire includes works ranging from baroque to contemporary music and she creates her own song programs. In 2022, the singer received a scholarship from the German Music Council to support her artistic activities.

www.gertraudthalhammer.de

Thomas Frerichs studied Protestant church music at the University of Music and Dance in Cologne.

He has worked as a cantor at the Carthusian Church and the Luther Church in Cologne since 2005. As a classically trained church musician, he also focuses on pop and jazz.

In addition to his work as a church musician, he also leads a jazz choir at the "open jazz house school in Cologne" and accompanies recitals, readings and musical cabaret as a pianist.

The idea for this program arose from many years of collaboration between the two musicians.

We are very happy to perform Cole Porter's music, as we admire the songs and they suit us very well artistically.

Price information:

15,- / 10,- reduced (pupils/students/people with disabilities 80%)