Brundibár Krása
Archived: 2018/2019Overview
Brundibár will be performed by WNO Youth Opera ages 10-18 plus guest artists
Brundibár (bumblebee) is a children’s opera by Jewish Czech composer Hans Krása and librettist Adolf Hoffmeister who wrote the opera in 1938.
Rehearsals started in 1941 at the Jewish orphanage in Prague, which served as a temporary educational facility for children separated from their parents by the war. In the winter of 1942 the opera was first performed at the orphanage: by this time, composer Krása and set designer František Zelenka had already been transported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp.
By July 1943, nearly all of the children of the original chorus and the orphanage staff had also been transported to Theresienstadt. Reunited with the cast in the concentration camp, Krása reconstructed the full score of the opera and on 23 September 1943, Brundibár premiered in Theresienstadt. The production was performed 55 times in the following year.
This fully staged new production will be performed by WNO Youth Opera ages 10 -18 plus guest artists and conducted by WNO Music Director Tomáš Hanus, whose mother appeared in the original performances. The opera will be directed by David Pountney in his final Season as WNO Artistic Director.
Supported by David Seligman and in memory of Philippa Seligman
The Arts Desk
The Observer
The Guardian
Cast one
Cast two
Good to know
Sung in English
Weston Studio | Wales Millennium Centre
Unreserved seating
WNO FREEDOM Season is proudly sponsored by Associated British Ports (South Wales) – 32 years of supporting WNO and our shared communities.