Brundibár children's opera: global educational project launched
(November 2000)
Jeunesses Musicales International (JMI) have announced a global educational initiative based on the children's opera Brundibár, by the Jewish Czech musician Hans Krása, published by Tempo Praha and represented through Boosey & Hawkes/Bote & Bock.
Krása wrote Brundibár as the storm clouds of persecution were spreading across Europe in the late 1930s. Premiered in secret at an orphanage in Prague, the work is most famous for its many subsequent performances at the Terezín concentration camp, where the composer, children and teachers were housed, en route to their doom. A performance for the visiting committee of the International Red Cross was captured on celluloid as part of a Hitler propaganda film, called Theresienstadt ein Dokumentarfilm aus dem jüdischen Siedlungsgebiet, intended to deflect attention from the Holocaust. The renewed popularity of Brundibár throughout the world acts as fitting recognition of the human tragedy of Terezín, and a testament to the creative spirit in the face of terrible adversity. Brimming with folk-inspired Czech melodies and rhythms, the 30-minute work is ideal for both professional and schools performance, and an English translation is available in the vocal score on sale.
Jeunesses Musicales International launched a promotional tour and community-based educational outreach programme in September 2000, designed to bring the opera and its message of tolerance and hope to thousands of children around the world. JMI has produced an educational package which includes a CD and a CD-ROM which interacts with the Brundibár website and contains extensive documentation in eight languages. Boosey & Hawkes is pleased to be funding the promotional tour and the creation and maintenance of the Brundibár website.
To officially launch the project, Jeunesses Musicales International took the opera on a European promotional tour from 28 September to 8 October 2000, with performances in Oslo, Lund, Copenhagen, The Hague, Barcelona, Paris, Brussels and London, under the direction of Michel Turkin.
Boosey & Hawkes is pleased to support the international promotion of this famous opera, which transcends the borders of race, nationality, language, historical experiences and suffering, to the benefit of younger generations across the world. Visit the website at www.jmi.net and www.brundibar.net
> Further information on Work: Brundibár
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