Opera “Brundibar”
More than 80 years later, the opera is set to resonate again, thanks to the unwavering commitment of students from the Wülfrath Gymnasium in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
about
History
In the haunting pages of history, the children's opera "Brundibar" echoes as a poignant testament to resilience and artistic spirit. The children’s opera “Brundibar” was performed exactly 55 times in the Theresienstadt concentration camp from 1942 onwards. The ensemble consisted of ten soloists who always remained the same. The forty choir members often had to be re-staffed because many of them were deported to extermination camps.
Composed by Jewish Czech musician Hans Krása with a libretto penned by Adolf Hoffmeister, the opera achieved notoriety through its extraordinary performances by the children of the Theresienstadt concentration camp (Terezín) in occupied Czechoslovakia during World War II.
In 2022 and 2023, around 50 students from the Wülfrath Gymnasium(NRW) will perform the children’s opera “Brundibar” again. In Wülfenrath and Velbert in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, in Riga, Latvia, the first transports from Theresienstadt went to Riga in Kibbutz Ma’abaroth, Israel – the home of Zvi Cohen, a survivor of the original Theresienstadt ensemble.
Aim
"Brundibar," named after a Czech colloquialism for a bumblebee, is a work filled with symbolic triumph. The narrative unfolds as helpless and needy children conquer the tyrannical organ grinder, presenting a metaphor for resilience in the face of oppression.
Despite the evident symbolism, the opera contains no overt references to the harsh conditions under which it was written and performed in Theresienstadt. Nevertheless, specific phrases in the libretto conveyed anti-Nazi sentiments to the audience, underlining a silent defiance against the oppressive regime. Emil Saudek, a poet at Terezin, altered a crucial line in the libretto to emphasize the anti-Nazi message.
What initially expressed admiration for love of family and native Land was transformed into a powerful declaration: "He who loves justice and will abide by it, and who is not afraid, is our friend and can play with us."
The Theresienstadt ensemble comprised ten steadfast soloists, while the forty choir members often faced the heartbreaking reality of being re-staffed due to deportations to extermination camps.
The opera's enduring legacy now finds new life as around 50 students from the Wülfrath Gymnasium are responsible for retelling this tale of resilience and artistic triumph.
Our involvement
In an inspiring initiative supported by the ALTHAFEN Foundation, these students will revive "Brundibar" in 2022 and 2023.
The performances will take place not only in Wülfrath in Riga, Latvia—a place with a significant historical connection. The first transports from Theresienstadt went to Riga and Kibbutz Ma’abaroth in Israel, the home of survivor Zvi Cohen from the original Theresienstadt ensemble.
The ALTHAFEN Foundation stands as a pillar of support for the Wülfrath Gymnasium's mission to bring "Brundibar" to life once again. Through their commitment to fostering education, remembrance, and the arts, the foundation plays a crucial role in ensuring that the powerful legacy of this children's opera continues to resonate across generations.