Our traditional December concert
with Scott Lawton, conductor, pianist, and composer 
and Edmund Toliver, opera bass

Monday, December 15, 2025 | 6:30 p.m.
Altes Pfandhaus | Kartäuserwall 20 | 50678 Cologne

 

Two American musicians – Edmund Toliver and Scott Lawton – both professionally active and eminently successful in the European musical scene, will present their favorite songs by George Gershwin, Cole Porter and friends, complemented by a selection of the most beautiful American Spirituals. Bass Edmund Toliver has sung as solist on the most important opera stages in Europe and pianist Scott Lawton has conducted the Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg and the Landespolizeiorchester NRW for decades.

Scott Lawton is an American conductor, pianist, and composer based in Germany. Known for his versatility, his career bridges classical repertoire, film music, and crossover projects. Lawton studied at Oberlin Conservatory and the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. He began his career in Germany and became Principal Conductor of the Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg in 1999. Since 2005, he has led the Landespolizeiorchester Nordrhein-Westfalen. He specializes in live film music performances and thematic concert programs, conducting works from silent films to contemporary scores, and collaborates with artists including the Scorpions, Joy Denalane, and Omara Portuondo. He actively seeks opportunities to present works by composers whose careers led from German-speaking Europe to the USA; a recent example was a concert of orchestral film music by the legendary Hollywood composer Franz Waxman, performed in the composer’s hometown in Opole, Poland.

Edmund Toliver is an acclaimed American opera bass, celebrated for his powerful, sonorous voice and commanding stage presence. Originally from Long Island, New York, he studied at Illinois Wesleyan University before earning his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Michigan. He launched his professional career in Europe, performing more than 135 times at the Vienna State Opera and appearing at prestigious houses such as Zurich Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and the Grand Théâtre de Genève. Toliver’s repertoire spans the major bass roles of Mozart, Verdi, and Wagner, including highlights such as Sarastro, Hunding, and Gurnemanz. He has also recorded and performed concert works and oratorios, including pieces by Tippett and Handel. In addition to his performing career, Toliver teaches voice, holding various academic positions in Germany.

 

REGISTER HERE

 

Tickets are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. We kindly ask you to only reserve the number of tickets that you will definitely use. Please note that the Altes Pfandhaus has both seating and standing capacity and that we can guarantee seats only for our members and for guests with disabilities.

You do not need to print out your Eventbrite ticket. The name under which you reserved your tickets will suffice to enter. 

This event is kindly supported by the Federal Foreign Office.