New »Krabat« opera: Co-production Lausitz Festival & Gerhart-Hauptmann-Theatre Görlitz-Zittau

The new work will then be added to the GHT's repertoire. It is the first co-production between the theatre and the Lausitz Festival. Marius Felix Lange has already composed eight operas, including one commissioned by the Salzburg Festival. He also wrote the libretto for his »Krabat«: »My study of the genesis of the Krabat material and its various forms was very in-depth and rewarding. I would particularly like to emphasise the 19th century stories (Jurij Pilk!) and the great Krabat novels by Jurij Brězan. I took great pleasure in creating an independent libretto, born entirely from the spirit of musical theatre, which, although it is set for the most part at the end of the Thirty Years' War, spans a time frame from Jesus' Last Supper to the present day. From a musical point of view, I draw on the oldest surviving texts of Upper Sorbian church hymns, such as those handed down by Swětlik.«

Advance ticket sales start in spring.

»A commissioned work is a rare privilege in music theatre and can only be achieved together with strong partners. We are therefore delighted to have found such a strong partner with great artistic openness in the Lausitz Festival. I can think of no better composer for this theme than Marius Felix Lange, who has familiarised himself deeply with all the variants of the Krabat saga and with whom we have been developing the idea of a Krabat opera for three years now. We can hardly wait for the premiere!«

Daniel Morgenroth, Director of Gerhart-Hauptmann-Theater Görlitz-Zittau

»The cooperation between the Lausitz Festival and the GHT is very important to us. I am delighted that together we can present the audience with Krabat, a story that has its legendary origins in Lusatia and has become famous far beyond the region. Marius Felix Lange is a proven expert, and I am very excited about his new work. It's going to be great.«

Daniel Kühnel, Director of Lausitz Festival