Lass uns die Welt vergessen - Volksoper 1938

World premiere

In German language with English surtitles

Operetta has always been an escape from everyday life into a dream world. But what if what is happening in the world is so terrible that it can no longer be forgotten? In the first months of 1938, current political life intrudes into the Volksoper during rehearsals for the operetta Gruß und Kuss aus der Wachau. What do intolerance, discrimination and fascism do to the staff of the Volksoper?

In the course of rehearsals, the seizure of power by the National Socialists brings about serious changes for the Volksoper: dismissals follow at all levels of the house. A captivating look into the mirror of the past can also mean a confrontation with a painful period in the history of the Volksoper. We don't want to avoid that. By telling the story of the Volksoper staff, we preserve the memory of ALL victims. At the same time, we do not lose sight of the actions of the perpetrators, which could happen again at any time, but we also remember the countless people who did not raise their voices.

Cast

Regie, Text & Libretto: Theu Boermans
Set design: Bernhard Hammer
Costume design: Jorine van Beek
Choreography: Florian Hurler
Lighting design: Alex Brok
Video: Arjen Klerkx
Sounddesign: Martin Lukesch
Historische Beratung: Marie-Theres Arnbom

Musical direction: Keren Kagarlitsky
Alexander Kowalewski, Intendant: Marco Di Sapia
Ossip Rosental, Souffleur: Andreas Patton
Hugo Wiener, Autor: Florian Carove
Fritz Löhner-Beda, Librettist: Carsten Süss
Kurt Herbert Adler, Dirigent: Lukas Watzl
Kurt Hesky, Regisseur: Jakob Semotan
Leo Asch, Bühne und Kostüm: Szymon Komasa
Bühnenmeister: Gerhard Ernst
Hulda Gerin (Miss Violet): Johanna Arrouas
Viktor Flemming (Graf Uli von Kürenberg): Ben Connor
Fritz Imhoff (Püringer): Karl-Michael Ebner
Trudl Möllnitz (Franzi): Theresa Dax
Olga Zelenka (Resi): Sofia Vinnik
Kathy Treumann (Anni): Julia Koci
Walter Schödel (Werkmeister): Nicolaus Hagg
Frida Hechy (Witwe Aloisia Bründl): Ulrike Steinsky
Emil Kraus (Otto Binder): Sebastian Reinthaller
Franz Hammer (Pepi Marisch, Briefträger): Johannes Deckenbach
Kurt Breuel (Graf Ulrich von Kürenberg): Kurt Schreibmayer
Johanna Kreuzberger (Amalasvintha von Kürenberg) / Mutter Wiener: Regula Rosin
Horst Jodl: Robert Bartneck
Fritz Köchl: Axel Herrig
Hans Frauendienst (Wirt Glöckerl): Thomas Sigwald
Ensemble: Anja Štruc
Ensemble: Jennifer Pöll
Ensemble: Marina Petkov
Ensemble: Anetta Szabo
Ensemble: Rebecca Soumagné
Ensemble: Victoria Demuth
Ensemble: Kilian Berger
Ensemble: James Park
Ensemble: Philip Ranson
Ensemble: Michael Konicek
Ensemble: Benjamin Oeser
Ensemble: Oliver Floris

Photos and Videos

Articles from our Weborello

What would you do?

On the occasion of the world premiere of Lass uns die Welt vergessen - Volksoper 1938, we have initiated a project that raises the question of one's very personal stance: What would you do?

5 reasons: Lass uns die Welt vergessen - Volksoper 1938

On 14 December 2023, Lass uns die Welt vergessen – Volksoper 1938 celebrates its premiere. Are you considering attending the performance? Here we have collected 5 reasons why it is important for us to show you this production.

„An hour of glory“: Press Reviews for „Lass uns die Welt vergessen“

"Standing Ovations," "Dignified," "An Hour of Stars": The press reviews are impressed by our premiere of Lass uns die Welt vergessen – Volksoper 1938 (Let's Forget the World – Volksoper 1938).

Press comments

Yet the Volksoper does what theater does best, precisely theater, and presents an overflowing, superabundant, extremely ambitious, and ultimately profoundly moving evening about its own history.

Süddeutsche Zeitung 15. December 2023

In the end, there were standing ovations and prolonged applause, marked by deep emotion for a journey into the past.

Kurier 15. December 2023

It is a dignified, indeed in the best sense decent remembrance, for which there were minutes-long standing ovations in the end.

APA 15. December 2023

There were standing ovations. The play should remain in the program throughout the entire Schoenberg Year 2024, the year of a displaced person.

Der Standard 16. December 2023

For the anniversary season, the Vienna Volksoper commissioned a backstage play that explores its own history (...). With a touching resonance.

BR Klassik 15. December 2023

Nevertheless, in 2023, the Volksoper boasts an ensemble that is astonishing, especially in all female roles, and the acting cast for the members of the artistic team is superb.

Süddeutsche Zeitung 15. December 2023

The highly motivated ensemble, with its many intricate role assignments, can only be collectively appreciated. The audience rightfully thanked them with standing ovations.

Kleine Zeitung 15. December 2023

What is particularly touching, however, is the composition of Israeli conductor Keren Kargalitsky.

BR Klassik 15. December 2023

With the Volksoper Orchestra, every style is profoundly executed; even at the end, when the cheerfulness becomes eerie (...).

Der Standard 16. December 2023

The audience was touched by Kagarlitsky's performance and Boermans' narrative. There was much applause for today's ensemble, which brought the artistic Volksoper team of 1938 back to life once again.

Deutschlandfunk 15. December 2023