C’est la guerre

At a time when war has once again become a constant feature of our daily news, we turn our gaze back to history. The theme of war is as old as humanity itself—and its artistic and theatrical exploration is just as ancient. World War II, in particular, has left traces that are still visible today, both in Germany and throughout the world. As incomprehensible as the events were, so diverse were the strategies people used after 1945 to try to regain their footing.

The postwar years were marked by a desire for a fresh start and to forget the past, for a return to an unblemished world. This hope was reflected both in the economic upswing of the young Federal Republic and in its culture: in Heinz Erhardt’s ingeniously crafted wordplays, in the carefree world of pop music, and at the same time in a Europe-wide abundance of new opera premieres that reflected on the experiences of the war in a cautionary and critical manner. But soon, new conflicts took center stage. The Cold War divided the world into two hostile blocs, and the Vietnam War became a symbol of a global proxy conflict.

In our evening of musical theater, we’d like to explore these different facets of war and how they’ve been artistically addressed—allowing ourselves to feel a sense of foreboding, yet also embracing our art form with plenty of humor and optimism. Let the sunshine in.