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Brundibár left: www.boosey.com |
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 Double - CD: CD 1: Brundibár. Eine Oper für Kinder. [Brundibár. A Children’s Opera] Music: Hans Krása. Libretto: Adolf Hoffmeister CD2: Brundibár und die Kinder von Theresienstadt [Brundibár and the children of Theresienstadt]; a radio-documentary by Hannelore Wonschick, ORF, Austrian Radio Vienna 1998 EDA 1999, contact: eda-records@klassikcenter-kassel.de or shop |
CD 2: Brundibár and the
children of Theresienstadt Some of those who take a look at the CD might have seen it already on stage: the little opera about two sisters who discover the strength of solidarity and defeat the evil organ grinder Brundibár. The music originated in Prague in the year 1938, and it was Hans Krása (1899-1944) who composed the music after the libretto of the artist Adolf Hoffmeister (1902-1973). The idea of the two friends was to participate in a competition announced by the "Association for Musical Education" in the magine "Rytmus". a monthly for contemporary music. However, the course of history radically changed. Hitler’s troops occupied their country, the National Socialists took over, and the prize for the best children’s opera was never bestowed. |
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 Photo of a Brundibár-performance in the community building of the Jewish sport fields "Hagibor" in Prague-Strasnice, 1942. Courtesy Milena Procházková. Prague |
Brundibár in Hagibor Late in the summer of 1942 Brundibár was staged for the first time – by the children of the Jewish Orphanage in Prague in the Belgicka Street. As at that time any public meeting was forbidden for Jews, the performance took place clandestinely. Another one must have taken place in the building belonging to the Jewish athletic field “Hagibor” in Prague-Strasnice, where the opposite photo - a unique document – was taken. At that time Hans Krása and many of his friends and thousands of other Jews had already been deported to Theresienstadt. It was there, when, on September 23, 1943 the premiere of the opera took place, followed by over fifty performances.
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 Rudolf Freudenfeld. (1921-1985) who changed his name to Rudolf Franek  Alice Sommer (geb. 1903) and her son Stefan, later named Raphael (1937-2001) |
“Everyone in
Theresienstadt knew Brundibár,” recalled Rudolf
Freudenfeld, who had rehearsed the opera with the children in
Theresienstadt. "All the children sang the melodies, many of
them saw it a number of times. I don't know how many survived. But you
could try it anywhere in the world, simply whistle a theme from our
opera, and you will find them. You can be sure they will answer and
make themselves known".
In fact, when talking to the survivors of Theresienstadt the very mention of the word Brundibár evokes a stream of consciousness that paves a way through the dark thicket of painful memories. Brundibár, it seems to me, is a magic word that goes directly to the heart, making the soul vibrant and conjuring up images of bygone times. These times however do not shelter a romantic dream but a nightmare. And yet, in the midst of the returning horror, there is also this: a vision of a more humane world, of culture, of hope, a light – Brundibár. "It was a light for all the kids, even for grown-ups, it was tremendous”, recalled Leopold Lowy. "It is a happy thought, it was a happy occasion. People were trying to get tickets to the opera over and over again”. “Brundibár gave the children faith. Faith in the world, that the world can be beautiful”, said the pianist Alice Herz-Sommer whose little son used to play once in a while the role of the sparrow: “The world under Hitler was terrible. But the world can be beautiful. When the children played Brundibár in the loft of the barracks, in these moments life lost its horror and looked friendly to them”. |
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 Hans Krása and Adolf Hoffmeister |
 He
effortlessly creates, as if playing between check and mate. But when something emerges, it reveals uncanny sureness. Viktor Ullmann of Hans Krása, 1928 |
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 Thomas Rietschel with three of the "girls of Room 28" (from left to right: Vera Kreiner, Ela Weissberger, Helga Kinsky) in Schwerin 2004 |
Thomas Rietschel, former general-secretary of the Jeunesses Musicales Germany, initiated in 1995 an international educational Brundibár-project which made its way through Germany and Europe into the world. Presently the American adaptation of
Brundibár by Maurice Sendak & Tony Kushner (theatre
and children’s book) has drawn the attention of the US
audience to the story. Shttp://www.boosey.com/pages/opera/moreDetails.asp?musicID=1592 |
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Bob Simon and wife |
Michael Gavshon, producer of CBS 60 MINUTES with Bob Simon and Anya Bourg in Spindlermühle for the shooting of a fim about Brundibár. The film runs Sunday, 25th February 2007 at 7:00 pm . To stanch the wartime rumors of the Holocaust, the Nazis created a model town to show the world they were treating Jews well. Survivors share their stories with Bob Simon this Sunday at 7 p.m. ET/PT. http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=2506215n |
Bill
Treharne Jones, director of the documentary about
Brundibár and the Girls from
Room 28.
