Brundibar

80 years after the premiere in Theresienstadt, schoolchildren from over 15 Leipzig educational institutions performed Hans Krása's children's opera »Brundibàr« in an unprecedented trilingual version at UT Connewitz. They were supported and guided by the artistic team of the Academy of Music. A total of over 80 Ukrainian, German and Russian-speaking children worked on and designed the production in the fields of acting, dance, choir, set design and costume within six months. In this way, each and every one of them found a place in the multi-faceted process of an opera production according to their talents. Joint dance choreographies formed a non-verbal link.
With three public performances and six school performances, all of which were completely sold out, the children reached more than 1,600 people with their message of friendship and solidarity.

»Brundibàr« is a children's opera in two acts by Hans Krása (composer) and Adolf Hoffmeister (librettist), which was first performed in Terezín in September 1943. Pepíček and Aninka, two poor siblings, want to buy their sick mother the milk prescribed by the doctor. They watch the organ grinder Brundibár and decide to earn some money by singing. But nobody listens to them and Brundibár, angry at the competition, even drives them away from the marketplace. As the two siblings lay down to sleep at a loss, a sparrow, a cat and a dog appear and offer the children their help. The next morning, the three animals round up all the children from the neighbourhood. Together they chase Brundibár away from the market square. When the children sing Pepíček and Aninka's favourite song again, they collect enough money for the milk. The finale of the opera consists of a triumphant march that appeals to the unconditional solidarity of friends.

The version of Hans Krása's Brundibár based on the libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister (Terezin version) was kindly made possible by Boosey & Hawkes - Bote & Bock GmbH, Berlin.
The German text version by Frank Harders-Wuthenow and Matthias Harre, the new Ukrainian text version by Galina Palaguta and the Russian text version by Lilia Vinogradova will be combined.

Project work:

20-24 February 2023 Project week I
March - June 2024 Weekly rehearsals for theatre and choir
10-14 July 2023 Project week II
14-18 August 2023 Project week III
09/16 September 2023 Final rehearsal project days
18-22 September 2023 Final rehearsals at UT Connewitz

Performances:

23 September 2023 Premiere
24 September 2023 Public performances
25-27 September 2023 School performances

Barbara Rucha
(Artistic Director)

„The project is a signal of peace in times of war by bringing the young generation together. It supports the integration of Ukrainian children in Leipzig.“

Simone Neubauer (Director)

„I am thrilled to see the joy and seriousness with which children feel responsible for the success of the project. I think it's very important right now to create something together.“

Meylem Gonzalez
(dance and choreography)

„Through cohesion and community, dreams can come true. Especially now, such universal values cannot be emphasised enough.“

Julia Bosch (costumes)

„Such projects are worth their weight in gold! They create joy, a wealth of ideas, connect people across languages, give new impetus and promote talent. This energy to create something new and great, to grow together, is magical.“

Helene Werner (costumes)

„Every city needs a project like this and every child should be given the opportunity to grow beyond themselves, try things out and create something together.“

Gunther Schumann (stage design)

„I find it exciting that multilingual collaboration is even possible in this tense political situation. Art hopefully offers something like a safe space in which we can find common forms of understanding that don't marginalise anyone.“

Swetlana Geisler-Reiche (language assistance)

„The project offers the children an almost therapeutic and healing experience in which they can transform their sadness into joy Through the joint artistic work, bonds are forged and new hopes are created“

Natalija Loos
(voice assistance)

„I'm impressed by how quickly the children interact with each other and work together for the greater good, even though they don't speak the same language. Friendships are formed here that will probably last a very long time.“

Paul Heller (project management)

„Art connects and overcomes boundaries. Music, theatre, dance and the performing arts manage to bring people young and old together and focus on the essentials: Community in peaceful coexistence.“

The Klaus-Martin Winkler Foundation was recognised as a foundation with legal capacity under civil law in December 2022. In addition to youth welfare, one of the foundation's purposes is to promote an international mindset, tolerance in all areas, culture and international understanding. Brundibár is the initial project and should be understood as a project of hope and promote the generation that will characterise the cohesion of our society in Europe in the future.

The Ralf Rangnick Foundation sees itself as an educational foundation. It initiates sustainable long-term projects and supports educational transformation at primary schools. Ralf Rangnick established the foundation in 2018 and has been supporting schools with various funding projects in the areas of exercise, nutrition, technology, music and creativity.