Tulsa Youth Opera Presents "Brundibar"

Jan 20, 2013
2:00 pm

In celebration of its 15th Anniversary, Tulsa Youth Opera presents Brundibar by Hans Krasa. Written during World War II, Brundibár tells the tale of children who collaborate with a dog, cat and sparrow to overcome an evil organ-grinder's attempts to thwart their plan to help their sick mother.   

The opera was first performed in Prague in 1942 at an orphanage for Jewish children displaced by the war. When the Krasa, the composer, and most of the children from the orphanage found themselves together at the Theresienstadt concentration camp, Krasa rewrote the piece from memory and adapted with the few instruments on hand. 

The opera was performed over 50 times in 1944 including a special staging for the Red Cross in an attempt to demonstrate the children at the camp were being treated well. Later that year the opera was recorded as part of a Nazi propaganda film. As soon as filming was completed, Krása, Kurt Gerron (the director), the cast and orchestra were transported to Auschwitz, where most were immediately gassed.   

Brundibar was the first work ever performed by TYO and this revival production coincides with TYO's 15th anniversary. 

Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art
2021 E. 71st St.
Tulsa, OK
View map